Rumex venosus Pursh

Taxonomic Identity

Rumex venosus Pursh is a perennial herb that grows from a creeping rhizome.

Stem Characteristics

It produces decumbent, spreading, or upright stems between 4 and 20 centimetres (1+1⁄2 to 8 inches) tall, and usually has a few branches.

Leaf Naming Origin

Its light green leaves are veiny, which gives the species its name.

Leaf Shape and Size

They are lance-shaped to oval, with smooth or wrinkled edges, and measure 2–15 cm (3⁄4–6 in) long and 1–5 cm (1⁄2–2 in) wide.

Leaf Stipule

Each leaf has a papery, sheath-like stipule above it.

Inflorescence Structure

The inflorescence is a densely flowered panicle that grows either axillary or terminally.

Flower Appearance

The flowers themselves are green and inconspicuous, not showy.

Flower Reproductive Parts

They have 6 reddish sepals, 6 stamens, and 1 pistil.

Floral Pink Color Source

The bright pink colour associated with the plant’s flowers comes from the inner sepals of each flower as the fruit matures.

Fruit Development

As the fruit matures, the sepals enlarge to about 3 mm (1⁄8 in) long and 1.5 cm across, become quite veiny, and surround the achene.

Flowering Period

This plant flowers from mid-spring to mid-summer.

General Edibility

Like all docks, Rumex venosus is considered edible, though its young leaves are often too sour to be palatable.

Leaf Consumption Preparation

Leaves and shoots stay tender through most of the growing season, making docks suitable as cooked vegetables, similar to beet shoots, but they usually require multiple boils to remove some of their bitter taste.

Achene Edibility

The achenes can be boiled into a mush or ground into flour, but removing seeds from the chaff is considered too time-consuming to be worth the effort.

Nutrient Content

Docks contain high levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene; Rumex crispus has higher levels of these nutrients than oranges and carrots have, respectively.

Leaf Medicinal Uses

The leaves of docks have been used to relieve the burning sensation from stinging nettle stings, and can be dried into a powder to help speed wound healing.

Chemical Properties

Docks contain anthraquinones, which have laxative and antibacterial properties, and can stop the growth of some parasites and fungi.

Root Medicinal Uses

Mashed roots of docks have been used as a poultice.

Root Dye Uses

Boiling roots can also produce red, yellow, or black dye; Native Americans made orange dye from the roots.