Rumex sanguineus

Red-veined dock, Bloodwort

PolygonaceaeLeavesPotential hazards — see below

iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) emmahanlon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

iNaturalist · cc-by
(c) Zo Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves

Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked as a spinach substitute. When young, the flavour is mild enough to use on their own as a cooked green or added in moderation to mixed salads. The leaves become bitter as they age.

Known Hazards

The wood dock is edible. However, as it contains antinutritive and harmful oxalic acid and its salts (oxalates), it is slightly toxic and should not be eaten in large quantities. (The contents are lower than in the related and better-known sorrel.) It is both used as a wild vegetable and cultivated, with plants and seeds being sold commercially. It contains considerable amounts of vitamin C and carotene. The (preferably young) leaves are eaten, for example, in salads. However, related species such as garden sorrel and French sorrel are generally preferred for use as a vegetable. Wood dock is said to be less flavorsome and more ornamental. Since mainly the leaves are valued, the less conspicuous inflorescences are often removed early to stimulate more vigorous leaf growth and to prevent (possibly heavy) uncontrolled spreading.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. It is best in a sunny location. It suits hardiness zones 6-10. In Hobart Botanical gardens.

Africa, Asia, Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, France, Ireland, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Slovenia, Spain, Tasmania, USA,

Countries: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Antigua & Barbuda, Albania, Armenia, Angola, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Barbados, Bangladesh, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Burundi, Benin, Brunei, Bahamas, Bhutan, Botswana, Belarus, Belize, Canada, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Switzerland, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Djibouti, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Algeria, Estonia, Egypt, Eritrea, Spain, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, United Kingdom, Grenada, Georgia, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Croatia, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Comoros, St Kitts & Nevis, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, St Lucia, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Libya, Morocco, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, Madagascar, North Macedonia, Mali, Myanmar, Mongolia, Mauritania, Malta, Mauritius, Maldives, Malawi, Mexico, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Netherlands, Norway, Nepal, Oman, Panama, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sudan, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sierra Leone, San Marino, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, El Salvador, Syria, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, Taiwan, Tanzania, Ukraine, Uganda, United States, Uzbekistan, St Vincent, Vietnam, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

A clumping herb. It grows 50-100 cm high and spreads 30-90 cm wide. The stems are dark. The leaves are lance shaped. They are 15 cm long. The veins are red. The flowers are small and green on long stalks.

How to Grow

A very easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils and preferring a moist moderately fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position. Plants usually self-sow freely in the garden. Of some value in the flower border or kitchen garden for its ornamental edible leaves.

Propagation: Sow seed in spring directly in situ. Plants can also be propagated by division in spring.

Medicinal Uses

The root is astringent and an infusion is useful for treating bleeding. The root is harvested in early spring and dried for later use. A decoction made from the leaves is used to treat several skin diseases.

Other Uses

Dark green to brown and dark grey dyes can be obtained from the roots of plants in this genus without the need for a mordant.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Rumex sanguineus, commonly known as wood dock, bloody dock or red-veined dock, is a perennial flowering plant species in the family Polygonaceae. Rumex sanguineus is a dicot and can be observed in Europe with at least two varieties.

Notes

There are about 200 Rumex species.

Names & Synonyms

Krvava kislica

R. condylodes. R. nemerosus.

References (10)

Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1288
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 187
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 584
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 282
http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants
Irving, M., 2009, The Forager Handbook, A Guide to the Edible Plants of Britain. Ebury Press p 180
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Romanowski, N., 2007, Edible Water Gardens. Hyland House. p 113
Ryan, S., 2008, Dicksonia. Rare Plants Manual. Hyland House. p 110
Sp. pl. 1:334. 1753