Spanish Rhubarb, Dock
Rumex abyssinicus

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

A stout herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 4 m tall. The rhizome or underground stem is fleshy. The stem is red-green and grooved. It is 3 cm across. The leaf blade is triangle shape. The leaves at the base are 25 cm long by 20 cm wide. The leaves on the stem are smaller. The group of flowers are 50 cm long. The flowers are in small clusters. The fruit is a sharply triangle shaped nut. It is 2-4 mm long and shiny.

There are about 200 Rumex species. There are about 20 in tropical America. All docks are said to be edible.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical equatorial Africa. It is mostly in the highlands. It grows up to 3,300 m altitude. In Tanzania it grows in areas with a rainfall of 1,100-2,200 mm per year.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. The roots are used as a flavouring. They are dried and pounded. The stem is sweet and is chewed. The dye from the rhizome is used to colour butter and help as a preservative.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. The shoots are eaten especially by children. It is a locally important vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, stem, roots - flavouring, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed or by division of the plant. Removing the flowers increases leaf production.

Leaves are usually collected in the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Ambata, Hopho, Kilengelenge, Markash, Mekmeko, Mooqmoqii, Shishoone, Sholsholo, Umufuumbahuumba

Synonyms

Acetosa abyssinica (Jacq.) A. Love & Kapoor; Rumex schimperi Meisn.;