Rumex maritimus

Golden dock

PolygonaceaeLeavesSeeds/NutsPotential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves, Seeds

Leaves are edible when cooked. Seed is cooked and can be ground into a powder, mixed with water, and cooked like porridge.

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 usually grows in marshy places. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Argentina, Asia, Bangladesh, Britain, Central Asia, Chile, China, Europe, Himalayas, India, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, North America, Northeastern India, NW India, Russia, SE Asia, Siberia, South America, Taiwan, USA,

Countries: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Antigua & Barbuda, Albania, Armenia, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Barbados, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Brunei, Bolivia, Brazil, Bahamas, Bhutan, Belarus, Belize, Canada, Switzerland, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Grenada, Georgia, French Guiana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, 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, Peru, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Paraguay, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Suriname, El Salvador, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, Taiwan, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, St Vincent, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

An erect herb. It has a rootstock that lasts from year to year. It grows 25-70 cm tall. The leaves are narrowly oval and heart shaped at the base. The lower leaves have long stalks and upper leaves are small and have short stalks. The flowers are in rings. The fruit are small brown nutlets.

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. Plants are likely to require a moist to wet soil. Closely related to R. palustris.

Propagation: Sow seed in spring in situ.

Medicinal Uses

The leaves are applied externally to burns. The seeds are aphrodisiac and contain about 5% tannin. The plant is considered cooling, and an infusion is used to treat bloat.

Other Uses

No dye data specific to this species has been recorded, but roots of many plants in this genus yield dark green to brown and dark grey dyes without the need for a mordant.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Rumex maritimus, commonly called golden dock, bristle dock, or seashore dock, is an annual plant species of the genus Rumex. Rumex D maritimus grows in Argentina, Burma, Canada, China, and the United States. It is native to Canada and most of the 48 states. The life span of Rumex maritimus is rarely biennial in moist environments. This herb belongs to the family Polygonaceae.

Other Information

It is sold in local markets.

Notes

There are about 200 Rumex species.

Names & Synonyms

Ban palang, Bijband, Bon palong, Bon suka sak, Bun-palang, Jangali palak, Jangli palak, Jub-palum, Jungli palak, Kali hulli, Khattikan, Maitha sikhia, Okung, Talbarua, Torong khongchak

Rumex garipensis Meissn.

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