Western dock
Rumex occidentalis

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

A herb that keeps growing from year to year. It has a tap root. It grows 1-2 m high. The stems are erect and stout. They often have a red tinge. The leaves at the base have a long stem. The blades are 10-30 cm long. They are triangle shaped. The have a round base and taper to the point. The leaves up the stem get smaller. The flowers are small and green and in coarse clusters at the top. They become red then brown.

There are about 200 Rumex species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist and swampy areas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Canada, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The young stems are cooked with sugar and eaten. They can be used for jam. The young leaves are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, stems

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Lapathum occidentale (S. Watson) Lunell; Rumex aquaticus subsp. fenestratus (Greene) Vorosch. Rumex aquaticus var. fenestratus (Greene) Dorn; Rumex aquaticus subsp. occidentalis (S. Watson) Hulten; Rumex bakeri Greene; Rumex fenestratus Greene; Rumex fenestratus var. labradoricus Rech. f.; Rumex gracilipes Greene; Rumex occidentalis var. labradoricus (Rech. f.) Lepage;