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Rumex occidentalis
  • Western Dock

a perennial member of the Rumex genus in the family Polygonaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Rumex occidentalis has 0 edible uses listed
Rumex occidentalis has 0 material uses listed
Rumex occidentalis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

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[1].

Edible uses

Notes

Young leaves - cooked[2][3][4][5]. Used like spinach[6]. A bitter taste, the native North American Indians would add oil to improve the flavour[7].

Young stems - cooked[7]. Used like rhubarb[7].

Seed - raw or cooked[4][8][6]. The seed can also be ground into a powder and used to make a gruel or added to cereal flours when making bread etc. It is rather small and fiddly to harvest.

Leaves

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

Although no specific mention has been made for this species, 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[9].

Unknown part

Dye

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves have been used in herbal sweat baths to treat pains similar to rheumatism all over the body[6].

A poultice of the leaves and mashed, roasted roots has been applied to sores, boils and wounds[6].

A poultice of the root paste has been applied to cuts and boils[6].

Unknown part

Analgesic
Astringent
Poultice

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Rumex occidentalis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



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[10]. Plants were seen growing well in a sunny well-drained bed at Kew in 1989[K].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Rumex occidentalis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Rumex occidentalis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Rumex occidentalis
Genus
Rumex
Family
Polygonaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Medicinal uses
[6]
Material uses & Functions
[9]
Botanic
[11]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    1.8 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Wind
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
    5. ? 5.05.1 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.46.56.6 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Turner. N. J. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples UBC Press. Vancouver. ISBN 0-7748-0533-1 (1995-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. ISBN 0-02-544950-8 (1974-00-00)
    10. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    11. ? Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press (1955-00-00)

    "image:Rumexoccidentalis.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Rumex_occidentalis&oldid=80492"
    Facts about "Rumex occidentalis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyPolygonaceae +
    Belongs to genusRumex +
    Has binomial nameRumex occidentalis +
    Has common nameWestern Dock +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves + and Seed +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeWind +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has imageRumexoccidentalis.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useDye +
    Has mature height1.8 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAnalgesic +, Astringent + and Poultice +
    Has primary imageRumexoccidentalis.jpg +
    Has search namerumex occidentalis + and western dock +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameRumex occidentalis +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Rumex occidentalis +, Rumex occidentalis +, Rumex occidentalis +, Rumex occidentalis +, Rumex occidentalis + and Rumex occidentalis +