298 Species of Genus Rumex

Rumex: A Deep Dive into Docks and Sorrels

I’ve always been fascinated by the diversity of the plant world. From towering redwoods to delicate wildflowers, each species holds a unique charm. Lately, I’ve found myself drawn to a genus of plants that often gets overlooked: Rumex.

You might know them better as docks or sorrels. These unassuming herbs, belonging to the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae, are found all over the world. They’re often dismissed as weeds, but I think they deserve a closer look.

A Diverse Genus

Rumex is a large genus, boasting 298 species. This diversity is reflected in their appearance and habitats. Some are tall and robust, while others are small and creeping. They thrive in a variety of environments, from meadows and woodlands to coastal areas and even disturbed ground.

Here are species of Rumex:

1. Rumex × abortivus Ruhmer
2. Rumex abyssinicus Jacq.
3. Rumex acetosa L.
4. Rumex acetosella L.
5. Rumex × acutus L.
6. Rumex aegyptiacus L.
7. Rumex aeroplaniformis Eig
8. Rumex × akeroydii Rumsey
9. Rumex albescens Hillebr.
10. Rumex algeriensis Barratte & Murb.
11. Rumex alpinus L.
12. Rumex altissimus Alph.Wood
13. Rumex alveolatus Losinsk.
14. Rumex amanus Rech.f.
15. Rumex × ambigens Hausskn.
16. Rumex amurensis F.Schmidt ex Maxim.
17. Rumex andinus Rech.f.
18. Rumex angulatus Rech.f.
19. Rumex angustifolius Campd.
20. Rumex × anisotylodes Sumnev.
21. Rumex aquaticiformis Rech.f.
22. Rumex aquaticus L.
23. Rumex aquitanicus Rech.f.
24. Rumex arcticus Trautv.
25. Rumex arcuatoramosus Rech.f.
26. Rumex × areschougii Beck
27. Rumex argentinus Rech.f.
28. Rumex arifolius All.
29. Rumex aristidis Coss.
30. Rumex armenus K.Koch
31. Rumex × armoraciifolius Neuman
32. Rumex × arpadianus Bihari
33. Rumex atlanticus Coss. ex Batt.
34. Rumex × attenuatus Valta
35. Rumex aureostigmatica Kom.
36. Rumex azoricus Rech.f.
37. Rumex × babiogorensis Zapał.
38. Rumex × balatonus Borbás
39. Rumex balcanicus Rech.f.
40. Rumex × baqubensis Rech.f.
41. Rumex beringensis Jurtzev & V.V.Petrovsky
42. Rumex bidens R.Br.
43. Rumex bipinnatus L.f.
44. Rumex bithynicus Rech.f.
45. Rumex × bontei Danser
46. Rumex × borbasii Błocki
47. Rumex brachypodus Rech.f.
48. Rumex brasiliensis Link
49. Rumex britannica L.
50. Rumex brownii Campd.
51. Rumex bryhnii Snogerup
52. Rumex bucephalophorus L.
53. Rumex × cacozelus Valta
54. Rumex × caldeirarum Rech.f.
55. Rumex californicus Rech.f.
56. Rumex × callianthemus Danser
57. Rumex × castrensis Rech.f.
58. Rumex caucasicus Rech.f.
59. Rumex × celticus Akeroyd
60. Rumex chalepensis Mill.
61. Rumex chrysocarpos Moris
62. Rumex × comaumensis Rech.f.
63. Rumex confertus Willd.
64. Rumex × confusus Simonk.
65. Rumex conglomeratus Murray
66. Rumex × conspersus Hartm.
67. Rumex × corconticus Kubát
68. Rumex cordatus Poir.
69. Rumex × cornubiensis Holyoak
70. Rumex costaricensis Rech.f.
71. Rumex crassus Rech.f.
72. Rumex crispellus Rech.f.
73. Rumex crispissimus Kuntze
74. Rumex crispus L.
75. Rumex cristatus DC.
76. Rumex crystallinus Lange
77. Rumex cuneifolius Campd.
78. Rumex cyprius Murb.
79. Rumex darwinianus Rech.f.
80. Rumex densiflorus Osterh.
81. Rumex dentatus L.
82. Rumex × digeneus Beck
83. Rumex × dimidiatus Hausskn.
84. Rumex × dissimilis Rech.f.
85. Rumex × dolosus Valta
86. Rumex dregeanus Meisn.
87. Rumex drummondii Meisn.
88. Rumex × dufftii Hausskn.
89. Rumex dumosus A.Cunn. ex Meisn.
90. Rumex × dumulosus Hausskn.
91. Rumex elbrusensis Boiss.
92. Rumex ellipticus Greene
93. Rumex ephedroides Bornm.
94. Rumex × erubescens Simonk.
95. Rumex evenkiensis Elis.
96. Rumex × exspectatus Rech.f.
97. Rumex × fallacinus Hausskn.
98. Rumex fascicularis Small
99. Rumex fischeri Rchb.
100. Rumex flexicaulis Rech.f.
101. Rumex flexuosus Sol. ex G.Forst.
102. Rumex floridanus Meisn.
103. Rumex × franktonis B.Boivin
104. Rumex frutescens Thouars
105. Rumex fueginus Phil.
106. Rumex × gamsii Murr
107. Rumex gangotrianus Aswal & S.K.Srivast.
108. Rumex garipensis Meisn.
109. Rumex × gemlikensis Rech.f.
110. Rumex giganteus W.T.Aiton
111. Rumex ginii Jahandiez & Maire
112. Rumex gmelinii Turcz. ex Ledeb.
113. Rumex × gombae Bihari ex Jáv.
114. Rumex gracilescens Rech.f.
115. Rumex graminifolius Georgi ex Lamb.
116. Rumex × griffithii Rech.f.
117. Rumex × guaitecanus Rech.f.
118. Rumex × gusuleacii Prodan
119. Rumex hastatulus Baldwin
120. Rumex hastatus D.Don
121. Rumex × hazslinszkyanus Bihari
122. Rumex × heimerlii Beck
123. Rumex × henrardii Danser
124. Rumex hesperius Greene
125. Rumex × heterophyllus Schultz
126. Rumex hultenii Tzvelev
127. Rumex × hungaricus Bihari
128. Rumex × hybridus Kindb.
129. Rumex hydrolapathum Huds.
130. Rumex hymenosepalus Torr.
131. Rumex hypogaeus T.M.Schust. & Reveal
132. Rumex × impurus Maire & Weiller
133. Rumex inconspicuus Rech.f.
134. Rumex induratus Boiss. & Reut.
135. Rumex × intercedens Rech.
136. Rumex intermedius DC.
137. Rumex × inundatus Simonk.
138. Rumex jacutensis Kom.
139. Rumex japonicus Houtt.
140. Rumex × johannis-moorei Rech.f.
141. Rumex kandavanicus (Rech.f.) Rech.f.
142. Rumex × kaschmirianus Rech.f.
143. Rumex kerneri Borbás
144. Rumex × khorasanicus Rech.f.
145. Rumex × kloosii Danser
146. Rumex × knafii Čelak.
147. Rumex komarovii Schischk. & Serg.
148. Rumex krausei Jurtzev & V.V.Petrovsky
149. Rumex lacustris Greene
150. Rumex lanceolatus Thunb.
151. Rumex lapponicus (Hiitonen) Czernov
152. Rumex × larinii Borodina
153. Rumex lativalvis Meisn.
154. Rumex leptocaulis Brandbyge & Rech.f.
155. Rumex × leptophyllus Murb. & Rech.
156. Rumex limoniastrum Jaub. & Spach
157. Rumex longifolius DC.
158. Rumex lorentzianus Lindau
159. Rumex lunaria L.
160. Rumex madaio Makino
161. Rumex maderensis Lowe
162. Rumex magellanicus Campd.
163. Rumex maricola J.Rémy
164. Rumex maritimus L.
165. Rumex marschallianus Rchb.
166. Rumex × melinkae Rech.f.
167. Rumex mexicanus Meisn.
168. Rumex × mezei Hausskn.
169. Rumex microcarpus Campd.
170. Rumex × mirabilis Rech.f.
171. Rumex × mixtus F.Lamb.
172. Rumex × moedlingensis Rech.
173. Rumex × monistrolensis Marcet
174. Rumex × muellneri Rech.
175. Rumex × munshii Rech.f.
176. Rumex × muretii Hausskn.
177. Rumex × nankingensis Rech.f.
178. Rumex nebroides Campd.
179. Rumex neglectus Kirk
180. Rumex nematopodus Rech.f.
181. Rumex nepalensis Spreng.
182. Rumex nervosus Vahl
183. Rumex × niesslii A.Wildt
184. Rumex nivalis Hegetschw.
185. Rumex oblongifolius Tolm.
186. Rumex obovatus Danser
187. Rumex obtusifolius L.
188. Rumex occidentalis S.Watson
189. Rumex occultans Sam.
190. Rumex × ogulinensis Borbás
191. Rumex olympicus Boiss.
192. Rumex orbiculatus A.Gray
193. Rumex orthoneurus Rech.f.
194. Rumex × oryzetorum Rech.f.
195. Rumex × pakistanicus Rech.f.
196. Rumex pallidus Bigelow
197. Rumex palustris Sm.
198. Rumex × pannonicus Rech.
199. Rumex papilio Coss. & Balansa
200. Rumex papillaris Boiss. & Reut.
201. Rumex paraguayensis D.Parodi
202. Rumex patagonicus Rech.f.
203. Rumex patientia L.
204. Rumex paucifolius Nutt.
205. Rumex paulsenianus Rech.f.
206. Rumex × peisonis Rech.
207. Rumex persicarioides L.
208. Rumex peruanus Rech.f.
209. Rumex × philpii Kitch.
210. Rumex pictus Forssk.
211. Rumex × platyphyllus F.Aresch.
212. Rumex polycarpus Rech.f.
213. Rumex ponticus E.H.L.Krause
214. Rumex popovii Pachom.
215. Rumex praecox Rydb.
216. Rumex × promiscuus Rech.f.
217. Rumex × propinquus Aresch.
218. Rumex × prusianus Rech.f.
219. Rumex pseudonatronatus (Borbás) Murb.
220. Rumex × pseudoorbiculatus Rech.f.
221. Rumex × pseudopatientia Rech.f.
222. Rumex × pseudopulcher Hausskn.
223. Rumex pseudoxyria (Tolm.) Khokhr.
224. Rumex pulcher L.
225. Rumex punjabensis K.M.Vaid & H.B.Naithani
226. Rumex pycnanthus Rech.f.
227. Rumex rectinervius Rech.f.
228. Rumex × rhaeticus Brügger
229. Rumex rhodesius Rech.f.
230. Rumex romassa J.Rémy
231. Rumex roseus L.
232. Rumex rossicus Murb.
233. Rumex × ruehmeri Hausskn.
234. Rumex rugosus Campd.
235. Rumex rupestris Le Gall
236. Rumex ruwenzoriensis Chiov.
237. Rumex sagittatus Thunb.
238. Rumex × sagorskii Hausskn.
239. Rumex × salicetorum Rech.
240. Rumex salicifolius Weinm.
241. Rumex sanguineus L.
242. Rumex × sanninensis Rech.
243. Rumex × schreberi Hausskn.
244. Rumex × schulzei Hausskn.
245. Rumex scutatus L.
246. Rumex sellowianus Rech.f.
247. Rumex sibiricus Hultén
248. Rumex similans Rech.f.
249. Rumex × simonkaianus Bihari
250. Rumex simpliciflorus Murb.
251. Rumex × skofitzii Błocki
252. Rumex skottsbergii O.Deg. & I.Deg.
253. Rumex songaricus Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
254. Rumex × sorkhabadensis Rech.f.
255. Rumex spathulatus Thunb.
256. Rumex spinosus L.
257. Rumex spiralis Small
258. Rumex × steinii Becker
259. Rumex stenoglottis Rech.f.
260. Rumex × stenophylloides Simonk.
261. Rumex stenophyllus Ledeb.
262. Rumex subarcticus Lepage
263. Rumex × subdubius Rech.f.
264. Rumex × subtranianus Freyn & Sint.
265. Rumex × subtrilobus Boiss.
266. Rumex suffruticosus J.Gay ex Meisn.
267. Rumex × talaricus Rech.f.
268. Rumex tenax Rech.f.
269. Rumex thyrsiflorus Fingerh.
270. Rumex thyrsoides Desf.
271. Rumex tianschanicus Losinsk.
272. Rumex tmoleus Boiss.
273. Rumex tolimensis Wedd.
274. Rumex × transbaicalicus Rech.f.
275. Rumex transitorius Rech.f.
276. Rumex triangulivalvis (Danser) Rech.f.
277. Rumex × trimenii E.G.Camus
278. Rumex trisetifer Stokes
279. Rumex tuberosus L.
280. Rumex tunetanus Barratte & Murb.
281. Rumex ucranicus Fisch. ex Spreng.
282. Rumex ujskensis Rech.f.
283. Rumex × uludaghensis Rech.f.
284. Rumex uruguayensis Rech.f.
285. Rumex usambarensis (Engl.) Dammer
286. Rumex utahensis Rech.f.
287. Rumex venosus Pursh
288. Rumex verticillatus L.
289. Rumex vesicarius L.
290. Rumex violascens Rech.f.
291. Rumex × weberi Fischer-Benz.
292. Rumex × wippraensis Wein
293. Rumex × wirtgenii Beck
294. Rumex woodii N.E.Br.
295. Rumex × wrightii Lousley
296. Rumex × xenogenus Rech.f.
297. Rumex yungningensis Sam.
298. Rumex × zsakii Bihari

More Than Just Weeds

While some Rumex species are considered weeds, the genus offers a surprising array of uses and benefits.

Culinary Uses: Sorrel, with its tart flavor, is a popular ingredient in many cuisines. It can be added to salads, soups, sauces, and even desserts. The leaves can also be cooked like spinach or used to make a refreshing beverage.

Medicinal Properties: Rumex species have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. They are believed to possess a range of properties, including:

• Antioxidant: Sorrel is rich in antioxidants, which help protect the body against cell damage.
• Anti-inflammatory: Some Rumex species are believed to have anti-inflammatory effects, which may be helpful in conditions like arthritis.
• Diuretic: Rumex has been traditionally used as a diuretic, promoting increased urination.
• Laxative: Certain Rumex species have laxative properties, aiding in relieving constipation.

Ecological Importance: Rumex plants play a role in the ecosystem by providing food and habitat for various insects and animals. They are also known to improve soil health by accumulating minerals.

My Personal Connection

My interest in Rumex goes beyond its practical uses. I’m intrigued by its resilience and adaptability. These plants thrive in diverse conditions, often in places where other plants struggle. They remind me of the importance of perseverance and finding strength in unexpected places.

I’ve also been experimenting with incorporating different Rumex species into my diet. I’ve found that the tartness of sorrel adds a unique dimension to my meals. I’m eager to explore more culinary applications and discover new ways to enjoy these versatile plants.

A Call for Appreciation

Rumex, often dismissed as a mere weed, deserves a second look. It’s a genus of incredible diversity, offering culinary delights, potential medicinal benefits, and ecological value. I encourage you to take a closer look at these unassuming plants and appreciate the role they play in our world.

Remember: When foraging for Rumex, it’s crucial to properly identify the species to ensure safety and avoid any toxic look-alikes. Always consult reliable sources and, when in doubt, err on the side of caution.