Dock plant identification can be easy with their leaf features: broad oblong to spear-shaped leaves which are rounded in their bases with smooth edges. Their deep green leaves turn reddish as the plant ages. Do you know about the importance of Dock plant identification, keep reading to help you detect this species correctly before hurting your health.
Docks (Rumex obtusifolius) as a Foraged Food or traditional medicines are popular among people. I used young dock leaves as eaten cooked. I found its taste similar to spinach or Swiss chard. I also use young stems. However, older leaves are bitter and don’t like their taste.
Anyway, if you are interested in looking for them in nature, when handling these plants, some dock species can cause skin irritation, so, you should wash your hands thoroughly afterwards or wear gloves. Additionally, some dock species are poisonous. Hence, it’s important you can identify dock plants correctly.
Here, I provided a few key features with you to look for them to identify a dock plant (Rumex spp.), including:
Leaves: Broad leaves that are oblong to spear-shaped with smooth edges and rounded bases. They are deep green, but lower and more mature leaves often develop a reddish tinge. The leaf veins may also be reddish.
Ocrea: A small, thin sheath that covers the base of each leaf stalk. This is called an ocrea, and it turns brown as the plant ages.
Flowers: Small, greenish flowers that are clustered in whorls on tall stalks.
Fruits: Brown, winged fruits that contain a single seed.
There are two common types of dock plants: broadleaf dock (Rumex obtusifolius) and curly dock (Rumex crispus). Broadleaf dock has wider, flatter leaves, while curly dock has narrower leaves with wavy edges. The seeds of the broadleaf dock also have toothed wings, while the seeds of the curly dock have smooth wings.
Here’s a comparison of dock plant (Rumex obtusifolius) with some commonly confused plants:
Feature | Dock Plant
(Rumex obtusifolius) |
Broadleaf Plantain
(Plantago major) |
Sorrel
(Rumex acetosa) |
Burdock
(Arctium lappa) |
Leaves | Broad, oblong to spear-shaped, smooth edges, rounded base, deep green with reddish veins (may turn reddish) | Broad, oval-shaped with prominent parallel veins, entire margins | Similar to dock plant, but with pointed lobes or arrowheads, sour taste | Large, heart-shaped with wavy or lobed margins, fuzzy underside |
Flowers | Greenish, small, clustered in whorls on tall stalks | Greenish, small spikes on a long stalk | Greenish-yellow, small, in loose clusters on a stalk | Purple, large, solitary flower heads with hooked bracts |
Fruits | Brown, winged achenes (single seed) | Small, dark brown capsules | Similar to dock plant, but reddish | None (burrs are seed-carrying structures) |
Stems | Smooth, reddish or green | Smooth, round, green or brown | Smooth, reddish or green | Furry or bristly, stout, reddish or green |
Habitat | Disturbed areas, fields, wastelands | Lawns, paths, wastelands | Meadows, fields, wastelands | Wastelands, roadsides, disturbed areas |
Broadleaf Plantain: Dock plant leaves are smooth-edged, while plantain leaves have prominent veins. Plantain doesn’t have winged fruits like a dock.
Sorrel: Similar leaves to dock plant, but sorrel has a sour taste and pointed lobes/arrowheads.
Burdock: Completely different flower structure (large purple heads) and leaves are fuzzy on the underside. Burdock has hooked structures (burrs) for seed dispersal, not winged fruits.
Look for the ocrea, a small sheath at the base of each leaf stalk, which is present on dock plants but absent on others.
Consider the habitat – dock plants prefer disturbed areas, while plantain might be found in your lawn.
Burdock is the easiest to distinguish due to its large, fuzzy leaves and burrs.
Remember: When foraging or using plants for medicinal purposes, it’s crucial to be confident in your identification. If unsure, consult a reliable plant identification guide or seek help from a qualified herbalist.
Traditionally, various parts of the dock plant (Rumex spp.) have been used for a variety of medicinal purposes. However, it’s important to note that most of these uses lack strong scientific backing. Here’s a breakdown of what’s been reported:
Roots:
Digestive issues: Dock root is commonly used as a laxative to treat constipation.
Skin conditions: Poultices made from the root have been applied to soothe skin ailments like boils and eczema.
Other: Some historical uses include treating jaundice, liver problems, and rheumatism.
Leaves:
Inflammation: The cooling properties of the leaves have been used to reduce inflammation from insect bites, stings, and sprains.
Wound healing: Crushed leaves have been applied as a compress to aid healing of bruises.
Sting remedy: Dock leaves are famously used to soothe nettle stings, often growing conveniently nearby.
Seeds:
Respiratory issues: Dock seeds have been used traditionally to treat coughs, colds, and bronchitis.
Important Considerations:
While there’s a history of medicinal use, most of these applications lack strong scientific backing to confirm effectiveness.
Dock leaves (from Rumex spp. plants) themselves aren’t inherently poisonous to humans in small amounts. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Now you can identify Dock plants easily. You’ve found out about their appearance and compared them with similar species such as Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major), Sorrel (Rumex acetosa), and Burdock (Arctium lappa).
Now Dock plant identification is easy by noting its broad, oblong to spear-shaped, smooth edges, rounded base, deep green young leaves with reddish veins (may turn reddish). If you have any problem identifying this plant, I recommend getting help from a plant identifier like the “House Plant Identifier”. I tested it to identify indoor plants, fruit trees, and wild plants and found it works well.
Please tell me about your experiences in identifying wild plants such as Dock plants. how do you identify them?
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.