Rumex brownii

Campdera

Swamp dock, Slender dock

PolygonaceaeLeavesRootsSpice/BeveragePotential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves, Root - drink

The leaves, which can grow up to 30cm long, are edible cooked. With the midrib removed before cooking, they make a fine substitute for leaf beet. The roasted root can be used as a coffee substitute.

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 grassland. Tasmania Herbarium.

Australia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Tasmania,

Countries: Australia, Fiji, Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Samoa

How to Identify

An erect herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a distinct flowering stem. It can grow 1 m high. The leaves near the base are sword shaped and taper to the tip. They are 5-15 cm long and 10-25 mm wide. The upper leaves are smaller and have parallel sides and taper to the tip. The flowers are very small. They are crowded in rings around the stem. These contain 5-16 flowers. The fruit have small hooked projections.

How to Grow

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. This species is sometimes introduced into Britain via bales of wool from Australia and it then persists for a few years.

Propagation: Sow seed in spring in a cold frame. Prick seedlings out into individual pots once large enough to handle, then plant out in summer. Can also be propagated by division in spring.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Other Uses

A rich yellow dye is obtained from the root when fixed with alum. Dark green to brown and dark grey dyes can also be obtained from the roots without the need for a mordant, as is the case with many species in this genus.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Rumex brownii, the hooked dock, Browne's dock or swamp dock, is a leafy perennial herb native to Australia, and is widespread and grows in disturbed sites. It is an introduced weed in the Pacific Islands, England, Japan, and New Zealand. It is 50–80 cm high with variably shaped basal leaves, oblong or lanceolate, to 12 cm long, and to 4 cm wide with cordate to truncate base. The petiole is about half as long as the lamina. Flower whorls with 3–5 hooked teeth on each side and with a hooked tip. The hooks aid seed dispersal via attaching to animal fur and hair, and also human clothing.

Notes

There are about 200 Rumex species.

References (20)

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Monogr. Rumex 64. 1819
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Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Tasmanian Herbarium Vascular Plants list p 45
Woolmore, E et al, 2002, King Island Flora: A Field Guide. p 66