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Rumex sanguineus

Common name:	Red-Veined Dock	Family:	Polygonaceae
Author:	L.	Botanical references:	17, 200
Synonyms:	Rumex nemerosus (Schrad.), Rumex condylodes (Bieb.)
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[238].
Range:	Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa, the Caucasus, and C. Asia.
Habitat:	Waste ground, grassy places and in woods, avoiding acid soils[17].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	2	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	1

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	R. sanguinea[HORTIPLEX]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Bloedzuring [D,E], Bloody-Veined Dock [E], Dock,Bloody-Veined [E], Patience Des Bois [E], Red Dock [E], Red-vein Dock [B], Redvein Dock [P], Romazroja [E], Wood Dock [L],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	anguineus = snake like sanguineus = bloody
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Polygonales. Buckwheat family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Britain Britain(Wales) France Netherlands Spain Us

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 1m by 0.5m . It is hardy to zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Wind. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 1/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Meadow, Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade.

Edible Uses

Leaves.

Young leaves - raw or cooked[2, 200]. A spinach substitute[105, 183]. A fairly mild flavour when young, they make a very acceptable spinach at this time and can also be added in moderation to mixed salads[K]. The leaves soon become bitter with age[K].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Astringent Skin.

The root is astringent[4]. An infusion is useful in the treatment of bleeding[4]. The root is harvested in early spring and dried for later use[4].
A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of several skin diseases[4].

Other Uses

Dye.

Dark green to brown and dark grey dyes can be obtained from the roots of many species in this genus, They do not need a mordant[168].

Cultivation details

A very easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils and preferring a moist moderately fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position[200].
Plants usually self-sow freely in the garden[K].
Of some value in the flower border or kitchen garden for its ornamental edible leaves[200].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ.
Division in spring.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

Details of Medicinal Uses, Habitats, etc. in M. Grieve A Modern Herbal (1931) [4]
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.

References for Rumex sanguinea (a possible synonym).

[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for rumex sanguineus (a possible synonym).

References for the family Polygonaceae.

[CHINA] Draft Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[105] Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[168] Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
A very good and readable book on dyeing.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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