Rumex aquaticus
Red Dock
a perennial member of the Rumex genus in the family Polygonaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Polygonaceae
- Genus
- Rumex
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1.8 m
- Fertility
- Wind
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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[5].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Leaves - cooked[1].
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The root is alterative, astringent, cholagogue, deobstruent, depurative, detergent, laxative and mildly tonic[5]. It can cause or relieve diarrhoea according to the dose, harvest time and relative concentrations of tannin(astringent) and anthraquinones (laxative) that are present[4]. It is used internally in the treatment of piles, bleeding of the lungs, various blood complaints and also chronic skin diseases[6][5]. Externally, it is applied to various skin diseases, ulcers etc[6]. The root has been used with positive effect to restrain the inroads made by cancer, being used as an alterative and tonic[6]. The root is harvested in early spring and dried for later use[6]. Some caution is advised in its use since excess doses can cause gastric disturbance, nausea and dermatitis[4][5].
- Product or use
- Alterative
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Deobstruent
- Product or use
- Detergent
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Dark green to brown and dark grey dyes can be obtained from the roots of many species in this genus, They do not need a mordant[2]. The dried and powdered root has a cleansing and detergent affect on the teeth[6].
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Dental care
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain but absent from Italy and the Balkans, to N. Asia.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- aquatic
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ. Division in spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A plant of shallow water[3].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9