Rumex sanguineus

Rumex sanguineus, commonly known as wood dock, bloody dock or red-veined dock, is a perennial flowering plant species in the family Polygonaceae. Rumex sanguineus is a dicot and can be observed in Europe with at least two varieties.

Description

A clumping herb. It grows 50-100 cm high and spreads 30-90 cm wide. The stems are dark. The leaves are lance shaped. They are 15 cm long. The veins are red. The flowers are small and green on long stalks.

Edible Uses

Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked as a spinach substitute. When young, the flavour is mild enough to use on their own as a cooked green or added in moderation to mixed salads. The leaves become bitter as they age.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves are used as spinach. They are used in salads and these can be softened by blanching in boiling water for a few minutes.

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Medicinal Uses

The root is astringent and an infusion is useful for treating bleeding. The root is harvested in early spring and dried for later use. A decoction made from the leaves is used to treat several skin diseases.

Known Hazards

The wood dock is edible. However, as it contains antinutritive and harmful oxalic acid and its salts (oxalates), it is slightly toxic and should not be eaten in large quantities. (The contents are lower than in the related and better-known sorrel.) It is both used as a wild vegetable and cultivated, with plants and seeds being sold commercially. It contains considerable amounts of vitamin C and carotene. The (preferably young) leaves are eaten, for example, in salads. However, related species such as garden sorrel and French sorrel are generally preferred for use as a vegetable. Wood dock is said to be less flavorsome and more ornamental. Since mainly the leaves are valued, the less conspicuous inflorescences are often removed early to stimulate more vigorous leaf growth and to prevent (possibly heavy) uncontrolled spreading.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It is best in a sunny location. It suits hardiness zones 6-10. In Hobart Botanical gardens.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, France, Ireland, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Slovenia, Spain, Tasmania, USA,

Cultivation

A very easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils and preferring a moist moderately fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position. Plants usually self-sow freely in the garden. Of some value in the flower border or kitchen garden for its ornamental edible leaves.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring directly in situ. Plants can also be propagated by division in spring.

Other Uses

Dark green to brown and dark grey dyes can be obtained from the roots of plants in this genus without the need for a mordant.

Notes

There are about 200 Rumex species.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Krvava kislica

References (10)

• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1288
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 187
• Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 584
• Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 282
• http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants

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