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:
- Rumex × abortivus Ruhmer
- Rumex abyssinicus Jacq.
- Rumex acetosa L.
- Rumex acetosella L.
- Rumex × acutus L.
- Rumex aegyptiacus L.
- Rumex aeroplaniformis Eig
- Rumex × akeroydii Rumsey
- Rumex albescens Hillebr.
- Rumex algeriensis Barratte & Murb.
- Rumex alpinus L.
- Rumex altissimus Alph.Wood
- Rumex alveolatus Losinsk.
- Rumex amanus Rech.f.
- Rumex × ambigens Hausskn.
- Rumex amurensis F.Schmidt ex Maxim.
- Rumex andinus Rech.f.
- Rumex angulatus Rech.f.
- Rumex angustifolius Campd.
- Rumex × anisotylodes Sumnev.
- Rumex aquaticiformis Rech.f.
- Rumex aquaticus L.
- Rumex aquitanicus Rech.f.
- Rumex arcticus Trautv.
- Rumex arcuatoramosus Rech.f.
- Rumex × areschougii Beck
- Rumex argentinus Rech.f.
- Rumex arifolius All.
- Rumex aristidis Coss.
- Rumex armenus K.Koch
- Rumex × armoraciifolius Neuman
- Rumex × arpadianus Bihari
- Rumex atlanticus Coss. ex Batt.
- Rumex × attenuatus Valta
- Rumex aureostigmatica Kom.
- Rumex azoricus Rech.f.
- Rumex × babiogorensis Zapał.
- Rumex × balatonus Borbás
- Rumex balcanicus Rech.f.
- Rumex × baqubensis Rech.f.
- Rumex beringensis Jurtzev & V.V.Petrovsky
- Rumex bidens R.Br.
- Rumex bipinnatus L.f.
- Rumex bithynicus Rech.f.
- Rumex × bontei Danser
- Rumex × borbasii Błocki
- Rumex brachypodus Rech.f.
- Rumex brasiliensis Link
- Rumex britannica L.
- Rumex brownii Campd.
- Rumex bryhnii Snogerup
- Rumex bucephalophorus L.
- Rumex × cacozelus Valta
- Rumex × caldeirarum Rech.f.
- Rumex californicus Rech.f.
- Rumex × callianthemus Danser
- Rumex × castrensis Rech.f.
- Rumex caucasicus Rech.f.
- Rumex × celticus Akeroyd
- Rumex chalepensis Mill.
- Rumex chrysocarpos Moris
- Rumex × comaumensis Rech.f.
- Rumex confertus Willd.
- Rumex × confusus Simonk.
- Rumex conglomeratus Murray
- Rumex × conspersus Hartm.
- Rumex × corconticus Kubát
- Rumex cordatus Poir.
- Rumex × cornubiensis Holyoak
- Rumex costaricensis Rech.f.
- Rumex crassus Rech.f.
- Rumex crispellus Rech.f.
- Rumex crispissimus Kuntze
- Rumex crispus L.
- Rumex cristatus DC.
- Rumex crystallinus Lange
- Rumex cuneifolius Campd.
- Rumex cyprius Murb.
- Rumex darwinianus Rech.f.
- Rumex densiflorus Osterh.
- Rumex dentatus L.
- Rumex × digeneus Beck
- Rumex × dimidiatus Hausskn.
- Rumex × dissimilis Rech.f.
- Rumex × dolosus Valta
- Rumex dregeanus Meisn.
- Rumex drummondii Meisn.
- Rumex × dufftii Hausskn.
- Rumex dumosus A.Cunn. ex Meisn.
- Rumex × dumulosus Hausskn.
- Rumex elbrusensis Boiss.
- Rumex ellipticus Greene
- Rumex ephedroides Bornm.
- Rumex × erubescens Simonk.
- Rumex evenkiensis Elis.
- Rumex × exspectatus Rech.f.
- Rumex × fallacinus Hausskn.
- Rumex fascicularis Small
- Rumex fischeri Rchb.
- Rumex flexicaulis Rech.f.
- Rumex flexuosus Sol. ex G.Forst.
- Rumex floridanus Meisn.
- Rumex × franktonis B.Boivin
- Rumex frutescens Thouars
- Rumex fueginus Phil.
- Rumex × gamsii Murr
- Rumex gangotrianus Aswal & S.K.Srivast.
- Rumex garipensis Meisn.
- Rumex × gemlikensis Rech.f.
- Rumex giganteus W.T.Aiton
- Rumex ginii Jahandiez & Maire
- Rumex gmelinii Turcz. ex Ledeb.
- Rumex × gombae Bihari ex Jáv.
- Rumex gracilescens Rech.f.
- Rumex graminifolius Georgi ex Lamb.
- Rumex × griffithii Rech.f.
- Rumex × guaitecanus Rech.f.
- Rumex × gusuleacii Prodan
- Rumex hastatulus Baldwin
- Rumex hastatus D.Don
- Rumex × hazslinszkyanus Bihari
- Rumex × heimerlii Beck
- Rumex × henrardii Danser
- Rumex hesperius Greene
- Rumex × heterophyllus Schultz
- Rumex hultenii Tzvelev
- Rumex × hungaricus Bihari
- Rumex × hybridus Kindb.
- Rumex hydrolapathum Huds.
- Rumex hymenosepalus Torr.
- Rumex hypogaeus T.M.Schust. & Reveal
- Rumex × impurus Maire & Weiller
- Rumex inconspicuus Rech.f.
- Rumex induratus Boiss. & Reut.
- Rumex × intercedens Rech.
- Rumex intermedius DC.
- Rumex × inundatus Simonk.
- Rumex jacutensis Kom.
- Rumex japonicus Houtt.
- Rumex × johannis-moorei Rech.f.
- Rumex kandavanicus (Rech.f.) Rech.f.
- Rumex × kaschmirianus Rech.f.
- Rumex kerneri Borbás
- Rumex × khorasanicus Rech.f.
- Rumex × kloosii Danser
- Rumex × knafii Čelak.
- Rumex komarovii Schischk. & Serg.
- Rumex krausei Jurtzev & V.V.Petrovsky
- Rumex lacustris Greene
- Rumex lanceolatus Thunb.
- Rumex lapponicus (Hiitonen) Czernov
- Rumex × larinii Borodina
- Rumex lativalvis Meisn.
- Rumex leptocaulis Brandbyge & Rech.f.
- Rumex × leptophyllus Murb. & Rech.
- Rumex limoniastrum Jaub. & Spach
- Rumex longifolius DC.
- Rumex lorentzianus Lindau
- Rumex lunaria L.
- Rumex madaio Makino
- Rumex maderensis Lowe
- Rumex magellanicus Campd.
- Rumex maricola J.Rémy
- Rumex maritimus L.
- Rumex marschallianus Rchb.
- Rumex × melinkae Rech.f.
- Rumex mexicanus Meisn.
- Rumex × mezei Hausskn.
- Rumex microcarpus Campd.
- Rumex × mirabilis Rech.f.
- Rumex × mixtus F.Lamb.
- Rumex × moedlingensis Rech.
- Rumex × monistrolensis Marcet
- Rumex × muellneri Rech.
- Rumex × munshii Rech.f.
- Rumex × muretii Hausskn.
- Rumex × nankingensis Rech.f.
- Rumex nebroides Campd.
- Rumex neglectus Kirk
- Rumex nematopodus Rech.f.
- Rumex nepalensis Spreng.
- Rumex nervosus Vahl
- Rumex × niesslii A.Wildt
- Rumex nivalis Hegetschw.
- Rumex oblongifolius Tolm.
- Rumex obovatus Danser
- Rumex obtusifolius L.
- Rumex occidentalis S.Watson
- Rumex occultans Sam.
- Rumex × ogulinensis Borbás
- Rumex olympicus Boiss.
- Rumex orbiculatus A.Gray
- Rumex orthoneurus Rech.f.
- Rumex × oryzetorum Rech.f.
- Rumex × pakistanicus Rech.f.
- Rumex pallidus Bigelow
- Rumex palustris Sm.
- Rumex × pannonicus Rech.
- Rumex papilio Coss. & Balansa
- Rumex papillaris Boiss. & Reut.
- Rumex paraguayensis D.Parodi
- Rumex patagonicus Rech.f.
- Rumex patientia L.
- Rumex paucifolius Nutt.
- Rumex paulsenianus Rech.f.
- Rumex × peisonis Rech.
- Rumex persicarioides L.
- Rumex peruanus Rech.f.
- Rumex × philpii Kitch.
- Rumex pictus Forssk.
- Rumex × platyphyllus F.Aresch.
- Rumex polycarpus Rech.f.
- Rumex ponticus E.H.L.Krause
- Rumex popovii Pachom.
- Rumex praecox Rydb.
- Rumex × promiscuus Rech.f.
- Rumex × propinquus Aresch.
- Rumex × prusianus Rech.f.
- Rumex pseudonatronatus (Borbás) Murb.
- Rumex × pseudoorbiculatus Rech.f.
- Rumex × pseudopatientia Rech.f.
- Rumex × pseudopulcher Hausskn.
- Rumex pseudoxyria (Tolm.) Khokhr.
- Rumex pulcher L.
- Rumex punjabensis K.M.Vaid & H.B.Naithani
- Rumex pycnanthus Rech.f.
- Rumex rectinervius Rech.f.
- Rumex × rhaeticus Brügger
- Rumex rhodesius Rech.f.
- Rumex romassa J.Rémy
- Rumex roseus L.
- Rumex rossicus Murb.
- Rumex × ruehmeri Hausskn.
- Rumex rugosus Campd.
- Rumex rupestris Le Gall
- Rumex ruwenzoriensis Chiov.
- Rumex sagittatus Thunb.
- Rumex × sagorskii Hausskn.
- Rumex × salicetorum Rech.
- Rumex salicifolius Weinm.
- Rumex sanguineus L.
- Rumex × sanninensis Rech.
- Rumex × schreberi Hausskn.
- Rumex × schulzei Hausskn.
- Rumex scutatus L.
- Rumex sellowianus Rech.f.
- Rumex sibiricus Hultén
- Rumex similans Rech.f.
- Rumex × simonkaianus Bihari
- Rumex simpliciflorus Murb.
- Rumex × skofitzii Błocki
- Rumex skottsbergii O.Deg. & I.Deg.
- Rumex songaricus Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
- Rumex × sorkhabadensis Rech.f.
- Rumex spathulatus Thunb.
- Rumex spinosus L.
- Rumex spiralis Small
- Rumex × steinii Becker
- Rumex stenoglottis Rech.f.
- Rumex × stenophylloides Simonk.
- Rumex stenophyllus Ledeb.
- Rumex subarcticus Lepage
- Rumex × subdubius Rech.f.
- Rumex × subtranianus Freyn & Sint.
- Rumex × subtrilobus Boiss.
- Rumex suffruticosus J.Gay ex Meisn.
- Rumex × talaricus Rech.f.
- Rumex tenax Rech.f.
- Rumex thyrsiflorus Fingerh.
- Rumex thyrsoides Desf.
- Rumex tianschanicus Losinsk.
- Rumex tmoleus Boiss.
- Rumex tolimensis Wedd.
- Rumex × transbaicalicus Rech.f.
- Rumex transitorius Rech.f.
- Rumex triangulivalvis (Danser) Rech.f.
- Rumex × trimenii E.G.Camus
- Rumex trisetifer Stokes
- Rumex tuberosus L.
- Rumex tunetanus Barratte & Murb.
- Rumex ucranicus Fisch. ex Spreng.
- Rumex ujskensis Rech.f.
- Rumex × uludaghensis Rech.f.
- Rumex uruguayensis Rech.f.
- Rumex usambarensis (Engl.) Dammer
- Rumex utahensis Rech.f.
- Rumex venosus Pursh
- Rumex verticillatus L.
- Rumex vesicarius L.
- Rumex violascens Rech.f.
- Rumex × weberi Fischer-Benz.
- Rumex × wippraensis Wein
- Rumex × wirtgenii Beck
- Rumex woodii N.E.Br.
- Rumex × wrightii Lousley
- Rumex × xenogenus Rech.f.
- Rumex yungningensis Sam.
- 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.