Rumex vesicarius

Ruby dock, Bladder Dock

PolygonaceaeFruitLeavesPotential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves, Vegetable, Fruit

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. They have an acid flavour and are used like sorrel — as a flavouring in salads or cooked as a spinach 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 tropical and Mediterranean plant. It grows in arid regions. It occurs in Central Australia. It is cultivated in Java. In West Africa it grows in the Sahara. It grows in the Sahel. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.

Afghanistan, Africa, Algeria, Asia, Asia Minor, Australia, Bangladesh, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Greece, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, North Africa, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Qatar, Sahara, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, UAE, West Africa, Yemen,

Countries: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Angola, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Burundi, Benin, Brunei, Bhutan, Botswana, Belarus, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Switzerland, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, China, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Djibouti, Denmark, Algeria, Estonia, Egypt, Eritrea, Spain, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, United Kingdom, Georgia, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Croatia, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Comoros, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Libya, Morocco, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, Madagascar, North Macedonia, Mali, Myanmar, Mongolia, Mauritania, Malta, Mauritius, Maldives, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Netherlands, Norway, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Poland, 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, Syria, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Taiwan, Tanzania, Ukraine, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

A shrub like plant. It is an annual plant. The stems are hollow up to about 75 cm high. The stems only occasionally branch. The leaves are broad and thick. They are like blunt arrowheads. The leaf stalks are about as long as the leaves. There are papery stipules at the base of the leaf stalk. The seed capsules occur on tall spikes and are papery red. The seed capsules have dark veins. The capsules are 1.5-2.5 cm long.

How to Grow

Succeeds in most soils, preferring a moist moderately fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position. Cultivated for its edible leaves in Indonesia and occasionally sold in local markets there.

Propagation: Sow seed in spring in a cold frame. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and plant them out during summer.

Medicinal Uses

The leaves are aperient, astringent, diuretic, and cooling. The seed is also cooling; it is roasted and used in the treatment of dysentery. The juice of the plant is cooling and useful for settling heat of the stomach, alleviating toothache pain, and checking nausea through its astringent properties.

Other Uses

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

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Rumex vesicarius, also known as ruby dock, rosy dock or bladder dock, is a species of perennial flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae. According to Plants of the World Online, Rumex vesicarius is native to tropical and temperate Asia, Africa, and Western Australia. However, the Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria asserts that within Australia it is naturalised in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.

Other Information

The leaves are sold in markets. It is a cultivated food plant. It is useful in dry areas when other vegetables are scarce.

Notes

There are about 200 Rumex species.

Names & Synonyms

Aambadchuka, Ambari, Ambongteh, Anbongteh, Bhote palunge, Chooka, Chuka, Chukani bhaji, Chukka kura, Hamaimesah, Hambad, Hammad, Hommidha, Hummed, Jussi soppu, Kala-chin-baung-gyi, Katta mitha, Katta palak, Khatti tan, Palak, Palang sag, Pink dock, Rosy dock, Saluni, Shakkan kirai, Suka kora, Suka sak, Sukha sak, Sukki soppu, Takpalang, Tarweekai, Turkey rhubarb, Tershoka, Wild hops

Acetosa vesicaria (L.) Love

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