Rumex hymenosepalus

Rumex hymenosepalus, commonly known as canaigre, canaigre dock, ganagra, wild rhubarb, Arizona dock, and tanner's dock, is a perennial flowering plant which is native to the North American deserts in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is a common food plant of the ruddy copper larvae.

Description

A small herb. It grows 90-100 cm high and spreads 50-70 cm wide. The tuberous roots are rich in tannin. It keeps growing from year to year. The leaves are spear head shaped and 30 cm long. They have slightly wavy edges. The flowers are on upright stalks. They changed from green to pink. The seeds are brown.

Edible Uses

Young leaves are cooked as a pot-herb, usually in several changes of water to remove bitter-tasting tannin. Leaf stems are cooked and have a crisp, tart flavour excellent in pies prepared like rhubarb; they are often cooked with sugar, or can be baked and the central portion eaten. Stems harvested before the flowers open have been boiled to make a drink. Seed can be eaten raw or cooked — ground into a powder and cooked with water to a thick, gravy-like consistency as a mush, or mixed with water, shaped into cakes, and baked. Children have eaten the root raw in early spring.

Traditional Uses

The leaves are cooked and eaten. They are cooked in several changes of water. They can also be dried and stored. The leaf stalks are eaten in pies like rhubarb. The seeds are sometimes cooked and eaten.

Medicinal Uses

An infusion of the stems and leaves has been used as a wash for sores, ant bites, and infected cuts. The roots are astringent; an infusion has been used to treat diarrhoea, and as a gargle for coughs, sore mouths, and sore throats. The root has been chewed for coughs and colds, and the dried powdered root has been used as a dusting powder and dressing on burns and sores. A tea made from the plant is used to treat colds.

Known Hazards

Plants can contain quite high levels of oxalic acid, which is what gives the leaves of many members of this genus an acid-lemon flavour. Perfectly alright in small quantities, the leaves should not be eaten in large amounts since the oxalic acid can lock-up other nutrients in the food, especially calcium, thus causing mineral deficiencies. The oxalic acid content will be reduced if the plant is cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition.

Distribution

It grows near streambeds but also on well drained higher ground. It grows in dry soil. It grows between 60-1,800 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.

Where It Grows

Africa, Australia, Britain, Central America, East Africa, Europe, Mexico, North America, Tanzania, USA,

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils but prefers a deep fertile moderately heavy soil that is humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained and a position in full-sun or part shade. Judging by its native range, this plant should succeed in dry soils. Extensively cultivated for the tannin contained in its root.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in situ. Can also be propagated by division in spring.

Other Uses

The roots are rich in tannin — dried roots contain approximately 35–60%, with wild roots containing more than cultivated ones and old roots more than young ones. Yellow, dark green to brown, and dark grey dyes can be obtained from the roots without the need for a mordant.

Other Information

Wild dock (Rumex hymenosepalus) At several Rio Grande pueblos, dock leaves, brimming with Vitamins A and C, are cooked like spinach or toasted and saved for winter stews.

Notes

There are about 200 Rumex species.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Canaigre, Ganagra, Wild rhubarb

References (17)

• Anderson, B. A., (Rev.) 1996, Desert Plants of Utah. Utah State University Extension p 20
• Anderson, M. K., 2012, Edible Seeds and Grains of California Tribes and the Klamath Tribe of Oregon in the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Museum of Anthropology Collections, University of California, Berkeley. USDA p 15
• Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1287
• W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. bound. 2(1):177. 1858 ("1859")

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