Swamp dock, Slender dock
Rumex brownii
Family: Polygonaceae
What it is like
An erect herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a distinct flowering stem. It can grow 1 m high. The leaves near the base are sword shaped and taper to the tip. They are 5-15 cm long and 10-25 mm wide. The upper leaves are smaller and have parallel sides and taper to the tip. The flowers are very small. They are crowded in rings around the stem. These contain 5-16 flowers. The fruit have small hooked projections.
There are about 200 Rumex species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in grassland. Tasmania Herbarium.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Tasmania
How it is used for food
The leaves can be cooked and eaten. The taproot can be ground, roasted and used as a coffee substitute.
Edible parts
Leaves, root - drink