Rumex abyssinicus
Jacq.
Spanish Rhubarb, Dock
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What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Stem, Roots - flavouring, Vegetable
Tender young shoots and leaves - raw or cooked. An acid flavour, they are widely used as a vegetable, either cooked alone or together with other vegetables. They are also eaten raw as a snack. The stem is chewed like sugar cane for its sweetness. A dye obtained from the rhizome is used in butter as a condiment, to give it a rich yellow colour and also as a protection against rancidity.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows in tropical equatorial Africa. It is mostly in the highlands. It grows up to 3,300 m altitude. In Tanzania it grows in areas with a rainfall of 1,100-2,200 mm per year.
Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia,
How to Identify
A stout herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 4 m tall. The rhizome or underground stem is fleshy. The stem is red-green and grooved. It is 3 cm across. The leaf blade is triangle shape. The leaves at the base are 25 cm long by 20 cm wide. The leaves on the stem are smaller. The group of flowers are 50 cm long. The flowers are in small clusters. The fruit is a sharply triangle shaped nut. It is 2-4 mm long and shiny.
Nutrition Score: 11/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 93.8 | — | — | 1.5 | — | — | 0.5 | 0.3 |
How to Grow
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors at least in the milder parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. 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.
Propagation: Sow seed in spring in a cold frame. Prick seedlings out into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out in summer. Division in spring.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Other Uses
No specific mention has been made for this species, but 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.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Rumex abyssinicus is a species of flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae, native to tropical Africa, including Madagascar.
Production
Leaves are usually collected in the rainy season.
Other Information
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. The shoots are eaten especially by children. It is a locally important vegetable.
Notes
There are about 200 Rumex species. There are about 20 in tropical America. All docks are said to be edible.
Names & Synonyms
Ambata, Hopho, Kilengelenge, Markash, Mekmeko, Mooqmoqii, Shishoone, Sholsholo, Umufuumbahuumba
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