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Rumex
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Rumex

Rumex

Common Dock (Rumex acetosus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Caryophyllales
Family : Polygonaceae
Genus : Rumex
Species
about 200, see text

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

Members of this family are very common perennial herbs and occur mainly in the Northern hemisphere, but are introduced almost everywhere.

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

These are erect plants with a long tap root. The 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.

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.

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

Species