Rumex

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Docks and Sorrels
Rumex britannica)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Caryophyllales Family: Polygonaceae Genus: Rumex
Species
About 200, see text.

The docks and sorrels, genus Rumex L., are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family Polygonaceae.

Members of this family are very common perennial herbs growing in acidic, sour soils mainly in the northern hemisphere, but have been introduced almost everywhere.

Many are nuisance weeds (and are sometimes called dockweed or dock weed), but some (notably the Common Sorrel, Rumex acetosa) have edible leaves, used in soups and salads.

These are erect plants with long tap roots. The fleshy to leathery leaves form a basal rosette at the root. The basal leaves may be different from those near the inflorescence. They may or may not have stipules. There are minor leaf veins. The leaf blade margins are entire or crenate.

The inconspicuous flowers are carried above the leaves in whorl-like clusters. The fertile flowers are mostly hermaphrodite, or they can be functionally male or female. The flowers and seeds grow on long clusters at the top of a stalk emerging from the basal rosette. Each seed is an 3-sided achene.

Rumex species are used as food plants by the larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species - see list of Lepidoptera which feed on Rumex.

These plants have many uses. Broad-leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius) used to be called Butter Dock because its large leaves have been used to wrap and conserve butter. Most of them contain oxalic acid and tannin. They have astringent and slightly purgative qualities. In the UK and Ireland, dock leaves are a traditional remedy for the sting of nettles and one that is surprisingly widely known, perhaps due to the abundance of nettles and the fact that Rumex plants often live nearby in the same sorts of habitat [1].

[edit] Species

• Rumex acetosa : Common or Garden Sorrel
  • Rumex acetosa ssp. acetosa
  • Rumex acetosa ssp. ambiguus - Garden Sorrel
  • Rumex acetosa ssp. arifolius - Garden Sorrel
  • Rumex acetosa ssp. hibernicus
  • Rumex acetosa ssp. hirtulus
  • Rumex acetosa ssp. vinealis
• Rumex acetosella - Sheep's Sorrel, Common Sheep Sorrel, Field Sorrel, Red Sorrel
  • Rumex acetosella ssp. acetosella
  • Rumex acetosella ssp. acetoselloides
  • Rumex acetosella ssp. multifidus
  • Rumex acetosella ssp. pyrenaicus - Round-seeded Sheep's Sorrel
• Rumex x acutus - Acute Dock
• Rumex albescens - Oahu Dock
• Rumex x alexidis - Alex's Dock
• Rumex alpestris
• Rumex alpinus - Monk's rhubarb
• Rumex altissimus - Pale Dock, Smooth Dock, Peach-leaf Dock
• Rumex angiocarpus
• Rumex aquaticus - Western Dock
  • Rumex aquaticus ssp. aquaticus
  • Rumex aquaticus ssp. arcticus
  • Rumex aquaticus ssp. protractus
• Rumex aquaticus x longifolius
• Rumex aquitanicus
• Rumex arcticus (synonym of Rumex aquaticus subsp. arcticus) : Arctic Dock
• Rumex azoricus
• Rumex balcanicus
• Rumex beringensis - Bering Sea Dock
• Rumex brownei - Browne's Dock
• Rumex brownii - Swamp Dock
• Rumex bucephalophorus - Red Dock
  • Rumex bucephalophorus subsp. bucephalophorus
  • Rumex bucephalophorus subsp. aegaeus
  • Rumex bucephalophorus subsp. canariensis
  • Rumex bucephalophorus subsp. gallicus
  • Rumex bucephalophorus subsp. hispanicus
  • Rumex bucephalophorus var. aegaeus
  • Rumex bucephalophorus var. subaegaeus
• Rumex chrysocarpus - Amamastla
• Rumex confertus - Asiatic Dock
• Rumex x confusus - Confused Dock
• Rumex conglomeratus - Clustered Dock, Sharp Dock
• Rumex costaricensis
• Rumex crispus - Curled Dock, Curly Dock, Narrowleaf Dock, Sour Dock, Yellow Dock, Garden Patience, Narrow Dock
  • Rumex crispus subsp. crispus
  • Rumex crispus subsp. littoreus
  • Rumex crispus subsp. uliginosus
• Rumex crispus x confertus
• Rumex crispus x longifolius
• Rumex crispus x obtusifolius
• Rumex crispus x patientia
• Rumex crispus x pulcher
• Rumex cristatus : Greek Dock
  • Rumex cristatus subsp. cristatus
  • Rumex cristatus subsp. kerneri
• Rumex crystallinus - Shiny Dock
• Rumex densiflorus - Dense-flower or -flowered Dock
• Rumex dentatus - Toothed Dock
  • Rumex dentatus subsp. dentatus
  • Rumex dentatus subsp. halacsyi
  • Rumex dentatus subsp. reticulatus
• Rumex diclinis
• Rumex digynus
• Rumex dimidiatus
• Rumex dimorphophyllus
• Rumex x dissimilis - Dock
• Rumex x dobrogensis
• Rumex x dolosus
• Rumex dregeanus
• Rumex drobovii
• Rumex drummondii
• Rumex × dufftii
• Rumex dumosiformis
• Rumex dumosus - Wiry Dock
  • Rumex dumosus var. dumosus
• Rumex × dumulosus
• Rumex durispissimus
• Rumex ecklonianus
• Rumex ecuadoriensis
• Rumex elbrusensis
• Rumex ellenbeckii
• Rumex engelmanni
• Rumex ephedroides
• Rumex erosus
• Rumex x erubescens
• Rumex erythrocarpus
• Rumex esquirolii
• Rumex euxinus
• Rumex evenkiensis
• Rumex x exspectatus
• Rumex x fallacinus
• Rumex fascicularis
• Rumex fascilobus
  • Rumex fenestratus subsp. puberulus
• Rumex fimbriatus
• Rumex x finitimus
• Rumex flexicaulis
• Rumex flexuosiformis
• Rumex flexuosus
• Rumex foliosus
• Rumex fontano-paludosus
• Rumex foveolatus
• Rumex x franktonis - Frankton Dock
• Rumex fraternus
• Rumex fringillimontanus
• Rumex frutescens - Wedgeleaf Dock
• Rumex fueginus
  • Rumex fueginus var. brachythrix
  • Rumex fueginus var. ovato-cordatus
  • Rumex fueginus var. tanythrix
  • Rumex fueginus var. typicus
• Rumex gamsii
• Rumex gangotrianus
• Rumex gieshueblensis
• Rumex giganteus - Pawale
• Rumex ginii
• Rumex gmelini
• Rumex gmelinii var. latus
• Rumex gombae
• Rumex gracilescens
• Rumex gracilipes
• Rumex graminifolius - Grassleaf Sorrel
• Rumex granulosus
• Rumex x griffithii
• Rumex x grintzescui
• Rumex gussonii
• Rumex x gusuleacii
• Rumex hadmocarpus
• Rumex halophilus
• Rumex hararensis
• Rumex hasslerianus
• Rumex hastatulus - Heartwing Dock, Heartwing Sorrel
• Rumex hastatus
• Rumex hayekii
• Rumex hazslinszkyanus
• Rumex x heimerlii
• Rumex hellenicus
• Rumex henrardi
• Rumex hesperius
• Rumex × heteranthos
• Rumex heterophylus
• Rumex hexagynus
• Rumex hippiatricus
• Rumex hirsutus
• Rumex horizontalis
• Rumex hoschedei
• Rumex hostilis
• Rumex hultenii
• Rumex hungaricus
• Rumex x hybridus
• Rumex hydrolapathum - Great Water Dock
• Rumex hymenosepalus - Canaigre, Canaigre Dock
• Rumex x impurus
• Rumex inconspicuus
• Rumex integer
• Rumex integrifolia
• Rumex x intercedens
• Rumex intermedius
  • Rumex intermedius ssp. algarbiensis
  • Rumex intermedius ssp. lusitanicus
• Rumex interruptus
• Rumex x inundatus
• Rumex iseriensis
• Rumex jacutensis
• Rumex japonicus
• Rumex x johannis-moorei
• Rumex kamtshadalus
• Rumex kaschgaricus
• Rumex x kaschmirianus
• Rumex kerneri - Kerner's Dock
• Rumex khekii
• Rumex x khorasanicus
• Rumex x knafii
• Rumex komarovii
• Rumex krausei - Krause's Sorrel
• Rumex lachanus
• Rumex lacustris
• Rumex lanceolatus
• Rumex langloisii
• Rumex lanuginosus
• Rumex lapponicus
• Rumex lanuginosus
• Rumex latifolius
• Rumex lativalvis
• Rumex leptocaulis
• Rumex leptophyllus
• Rumex limoniastrum
• Rumex linearis
• Rumex x lingulatus
• Rumex litoralis
• Rumex lonaczewskii
• Rumex longifolius - Door-yard Dock, Dooryard Dock
  • Rumex longifolius var. nanus
• Rumex longisetus
• Rumex lorentzianus
• Rumex x lousleyi
• Rumex ludovicianus
• Rumex lugdunensis
• Rumex lunaria
• Rumex luxurians
• Rumex x lycheanus
• Rumex maderensis
• Rumex magellanicus
  • Rumex magellanicus var. donatii
  • Rumex magellanicus var. dusenii
• Rumex maritimus - Golden Dock, Bristle Dock, Seashore Dock
• Rumex marschallianus
• Rumex maximus
• Rumex megalophyllus
• Rumex meyeri
• Rumex × mezei
• Rumex microcarpus
• Rumex microdon
• Rumex x mirabilis
• Rumex mixtus
• Rumex moedlingensis
• Rumex x monistrolensis
• Rumex montanus
• Rumex monticola
• Rumex muelleri
• Rumex x munshii
• Rumex muretii
• Rumex muricatus
• Rumex x nankingensis
• Rumex natalensis
• Rumex neglectus
• Rumex nematopodus - Arizona Dock
• Rumex nemorosus
• Rumex nepalensis
• Rumex nervosus
• Rumex nevadensis
• Rumex nigricans
• Rumex nikkoensis
• Rumex nivalis
• Rumex oblongifolius
• Rumex obovatus - Tropical Dock
• Rumex obtusifolius - Broad-leaved Dock, Bitter Dock, Bluntleaf Dock
• Rumex obtusifolius ssp. obtusifolius
• Rumex occidentalis
  • Rumex occidentalis var. perplexus
• Rumex occultans
• Rumex ochotensis
• Rumex orbiculatus - Great Water Dock
• Rumex orientalis
• Rumex orthoneurus - Chiricahua Mountain Dock
• Rumex x oryzetorum
• Rumex osswaldii
• Rumex oxysepalus
• Rumex x pakistanicus
• Rumex pallidus - Seaside Dock
• Rumex x palustroides
• Rumex pamiricus
• Rumex x pannonicus
• Rumex papilio
• Rumex paraguayensis - Paraguayan Dock
• Rumex patagonicus
• Rumex patientia - Patience Dock, Garden Patience, Monk's Rhubarb
• Rumex paucifolius - Alpine Sheep Sorrel, Fewleaved Dock, Meadow Dock
• Rumex peisonis
• Rumex peregrinus
• Rumex persicaris
• Rumex peruanus
• Rumex pictus
• Rumex pilatensis
• Rumex planivalvis
• Rumex polycarpus
• Rumex polygamus
• Rumex polyklonos
• Rumex polyrrhizus
• Rumex ponticus
• Rumex popovii
• Rumex praecox
• Rumex pratensis
• Rumex procerus
• Rumex x promiscuus
• Rumex x propinquus
• Rumex protractus
• Rumex pseudonatronatus - Field Dock
• Rumex x pseudopulcher
• Rumex pseudoscutatus
• Rumex pseudoxyria
• Rumex pulcher - Fiddle Dock
  • Rumex pulcher ssp. divaricatus
  • Rumex pulcher ssp. pulcher
  • Rumex pulcher ssp. woodsii
• Rumex quarrei
• Rumex raulini
• Rumex rechingerianus
• Rumex rectinervius
• Rumex recurvatus
• Rumex x rhaeticus
• Rumex rhodesius
• Rumex x romanicus
• Rumex romassa
• Rumex x rosemurphyae
• Rumex roseus
• Rumex rossicus
• Rumex rothschildianus
• Rumex rugosus (synonym of Rumex acetosa) - Wrinkled Dock
• Rumex rupestris - Shore Dock
• Rumex ruwenzoriensis
• Rumex sagittatus - Rambling Dock
• Rumex x sagorski
• Rumex salicetorum
• Rumex salicifolius - Willow Dock, Willow-leaved Dock
  • Rumex salicifolius ssp. angustivalvis
  • Rumex salicifolius var. denticulatus
  • Rumex salicifolius f. escallosus
  • Rumex salicifolius ssp. montigenitus
  • Rumex salicifolius var. nudivalvis
  • Rumex salicifolius var. oreolapathum - Willow Dock
  • Rumex salicifolius var. triangularis
  • Rumex salicifolius var. trigranis
• Rumex salinus
• Rumex samuelssoni
• Rumex sanguineus - Wood Dock, Redvein Dock
• Rumex sanninensis
• Rumex schimperi
• Rumex schischkinii
• Rumex x schmidtii
• Rumex x schreberi
• Rumex x schultzei
• Rumex scutatus - French Sorrel, Leaf-shield Sorrel
  • Rumex scutatus ssp. gallaecicus
• Rumex sellowianus
• Rumex semigraecus
• Rumex shultzii
• Rumex sibiricus - Siberian Dock
• Rumex similans
• Rumex x similatus
• Rumex simonkaianus
• Rumex simpliciflorus
• Rumex sinuatus
• Rumex x skofitzi
• Rumex skottsbergii - Lava Dock
• Rumex songaricus
• Rumex x sorkhabadensis
• Rumex spathulatus
• Rumex spiralis - Winged Dock
• Rumex spurius
• Rumex stenoglottis
• Rumex x stenophylloides
• Rumex stenophyllus (Synonym of Rumex acetosa) - Narrow-leaf Dock, Narrowleaf Dock
• Rumex subalpinus - Subalpine Dock
• Rumex subarcticus
• Rumex x subdubius
• Rumex subrotundus
• Rumex subtrilobus
• Rumex subvirescens
• Rumex suffruticosus
• Rumex suzukianus
• Rumex sylvaticus
• Rumex sylvestris
• Rumex x talaricus
• Rumex tenax
• Rumex tenellus
• Rumex thyrsoides
• Rumex tianschanicus
• Rumex tibeticus
• Rumex tingitanus
• Rumex tmoleus
• Rumex toepffieri
• Rumex tolimensis
• Rumex tomentellus - Willow Creek Dock
• Rumex × transbaicalicus
• Rumex triangularis
• Rumex triangulivalvis
• Rumex trifidus
• Rumex trinervius
• Rumex tuberosus
• Rumex tunetanus
• Rumex turcestanicus
• Rumex ucranicus
• Rumex x ujskensis
• Rumex x uludaghensis
• Rumex uncinulatus
• Rumex undulatus
• Rumex ursinus
• Rumex uruguayensis
• Rumex ussuriensis
• Rumex usticanus
• Rumex utahensis
• Rumex venosus - Veiny Dock
• Rumex verrietianus
• Rumex verticillatus - Swamp Dock, Water Dock
• Rumex vesceritensis
• Rumex vesicarius - Bladderdock
• Rumex violascens - Violet Dock
• Rumex wachteri
• Rumex x weberi
• Rumex × wildtianus
• Rumex woodii
• Rumex woodsii
• Rumex x wrightii
• Rumex × xenogenus
• Rumex yezoensis
• Rumex yungningensis
• Rumex zsakii