Rumex aquaticus

Red dock, Tu ta huang, Parelle

PolygonaceaeLeavesPotential hazards — see below

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(c) Jakob Fahr, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jakob Fahr

What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves

The leaves are edible cooked.

Known Hazards

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.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. It grows in damp or wet places. It often grows near the water's edge. In central China it grows between 200-3,600 m above sea level.

Asia, Central Asia, China, Czech Republic, Europe, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, North America, Russia,

Countries: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Antigua & Barbuda, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Barbados, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Brunei, Bahamas, Bhutan, Belarus, Belize, Canada, Switzerland, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Grenada, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Croatia, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, St Kitts & Nevis, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, St Lucia, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Malta, Maldives, Mexico, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Netherlands, Norway, Nepal, Oman, Panama, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, El Salvador, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, Taiwan, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan, St Vincent, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A tall perennial dock reaching 1.8 m (6 ft), with hermaphroditic flowers appearing July to August. Wind-pollinated and adapted to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils across a range of pH levels from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline. Tolerates semi-shade conditions and thrives in wet soil or shallow water environments.

How to Grow

A plant of shallow water.

Propagation: Sow seed in spring or autumn directly in situ. Can also be propagated by division in spring.

Medicinal Uses

The root is alterative, astringent, cholagogue, deobstruent, depurative, detergent, laxative, and mildly tonic. Depending on the dose, harvest time, and the relative concentrations of tannins and anthraquinones present, it can either cause or relieve diarrhoea. It is used internally for piles, bleeding of the lungs, various blood complaints, and chronic skin diseases. Externally, it is applied to skin diseases, ulcers, and similar complaints. The root has also been used with positive effect to slow the progression of cancer, employed as an alterative and tonic. The root is harvested in early spring and dried for later use. Excess doses can cause gastric disturbance, nausea, and dermatitis, so some caution is advised.

Other Uses

Dark green to brown and dark grey dyes can be obtained from the roots of many species in this genus without the need for a mordant. The dried and powdered root has a cleansing and detergent effect on the teeth.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Rumex aquaticus is a flowering plant in the knotweed family, Polygonaceae. It is native to temperate Eurasia. It is commonly known as the western dock found in aquatic environments.

References (4)

Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 5
Romanowski, N., 2007, Edible Water Gardens. Hyland House. p 113
Simkova, K. et al, 2014, Ethnobotanical review of wild edible plants used in the Czech Republic. Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality 88, 49-67
Sp. pl. 1:336. 1753