Sour Dock Rumex hastatulus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ROO-meks hass-TAY-tuh-liss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Rumex is the genus for about 200 species of docks and sorrels, which are annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat (Polygonaceae) family. Members of this family are very common with an almost worldwide distribution. Some members of this family are nuisance weeds, sometimes called dock weed, but some are grown for their edible leaves. Species of this genus also act as host plants for various butterfly types.
Rumex hastatulus, or Heartwing Sorrel, is an annual or short-lived perennial herb-like plant, erect, weedy, with leaves that are mainly basal, alternate, and simple. Flowers tend to be small, red in color, and carried in terminal, branched clusters. The fruit of the plant is reddish brown.
Leaves, flowers, and seeds of this plant are edible. However, if large quantities of leaves are not cooked properly, they can cause stomach cramps and nausea when ingested. Also, only collect plants for cooking from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. The plants are typically found in disturbed areas in pastures, fields, and roadsides.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rumex
- Species:
- hastatulus
- Family:
- Polygonaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- throughout
- Edibility:
- Edible, but leaves are low-level toxic when eaten in large quantities.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Small, hard, seed-like 3-sided to lens-shaped fruit.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Small flowers in a radially symmetrical raceme or spike-like cluster; 3 to 6 petal-like sepals; 3 to 9 stamens.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves often form a membranous sheath around the stem above the node.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Large quantities of leaves, if not cooked properly and then ingested, can cause nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and headaches. Kidney failure (rare in dogs/cats), tremors, salivation.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Soluble calcium oxalates
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
