Rumex

About 200, see text.

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The docks and sorrels, genus Rumex L., are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family Polygonaceae.

Related Topics:
Genus - L. - Annual - Biennial - Perennial - Herb - Buckwheat - Polygonaceae

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Members of this family are very common perennial herbs growing in acidic, sour soils mainly in the northern hemisphere, but have been introduced almost everywhere.

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Many are nuisance weeds, but some (notably the Common Sorrel, Rumex acetosa) have edible leaves, used in salads.

Related Topics:
Weed - Common Sorrel - Leaves - Salad

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These are erect plants with long tap roots. The fleshy to leathery leaves form a basal rosette at the root. The basal leaves may be different from those near the inflorescence. They may or may not have stipules. There are minor leaf veins. The leaf blade margins are entire or crenate.

Related Topics:
Tap root - Inflorescence - Stipule

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The inconspicuous flowers are carried above the leaves in whorl-like clusters. The fertile flowers are mostly hermaphrodite, or they can be functionally male or female. The flowers and seeds grow on long clusters at the top of a stalk emerging from the basal rosette. Each seed is an 3-sided achene.

Related Topics:
Flower - Hermaphrodite

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The roots of dock, among other plants, are eaten by the larvae of the Ghost Moth. The leaves are eaten by the larvae of other Lepidoptera including Blood-vein, Mottled Beauty, The Engrailed, The Flame, Flame Shoulder, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Autumnal Rustic, Ingrailed Clay, Double Square-spot and Six-striped Rustic. The larva of the Heart and Club feeds on both leaves and roots.

Related Topics:
Roots - Larvae - Ghost Moth - Lepidoptera - Blood-vein - Mottled Beauty - The Engrailed - The Flame - Flame Shoulder - Lesser Yellow Underwing - Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing - Autumnal Rustic - Ingrailed Clay - Double Square-spot - Six-striped Rustic - Heart and Club

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These plants have many uses. Broad-leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius) used to be called Butter Dock because its large leaves have been used to wrap and conserve butter. Most of them contain oxalic acid and tannin. They have astringent and slightly purgative qualities.

Related Topics:
Rumex obtusifolius - Butter - Oxalic acid - Tannin - Astringent - Purgative

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