Rumex obtusifolius
Patience à feuilles obtuses
Broad-leaved Dock
Additional information
| Plant family | |
|---|---|
| Area | Provence Verte |
| Flower colour | red |
| Flower size | 2.5-3.5 mm |
| Flowering months | May, June, July |
| Leaf type | Lanceolate, Elliptic, Cordate |
| Height | 50-130 cm |
Description
A sturdy plant with rough stems, often reddish. The second name ‘obtusifolius’ derives from ‘obtuse’ meaning oval, referring to the shape of the leaves.
Butter used to be wrapped in dock leaves to protect and preserve it.
Flowers
Each whorled raceme on the flower stalk, consists of 10-25 flowers, at first green, turning red with maturity, with triangular to oblong tepals. The calyx has horned margins.
Leaves
Elliptic oval leaf, Cordate heart-shaped, Lanceolate leaf is lance-shaped: long and widest in the middle. Rosette of oval leaves with a heart-shaped base, rounded tip and wavy margins to 40 cm long. Stem leaves are oval to long, wider in the middle, pointed and alternate on the stem.
Fruits Seeds
Achene: a string of small dry 1-seeded fruit. The seed is rounded with 3 sides, reddish-brown, surrounded by valves.
Edible
The young leaves, bitter in taste, are used in a mixed leaf salad.
Medical
Leaves: a poultice of the crushed leaves is a natural remedy for stings, including those of stinging nettles.
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