Rumex obtusifolius L. ssp. agrestis (Fr.) Danser
Rumex obtusifolius L. ssp. sylvestris (Wallr.) Rech. f.
Rumex obtusifolius L. var. sylvestris (Wallr.) Koch
Rumex obtusifolius L.
Bitter dock, broad-leaved dock
Native to western Europe, broadleaf dock is now widespread in North America.
Plants: 1–4′ (30–121 cm), on stout stems that don’t branch except just below the flowerheads.
Leaves: Basal leaves are not arranged in a rosette, and are oval, oblong, or heart-shaped, usually red-veined.. Upper leaves are lanceolate. All leaves have wavy edges, but less so than with curly dock.
Flowers: On spike-like racemes, greenish, pinkish, or reddish. They appear from June to October.
Fruits: ~1/16″ (2–2.7 mm), comprised of triangular “valves” (wings), each with 2-4 spiny teeth on margins. One of the three wings has a seed.
Habitats: Ditches, roadsides, wetlands, meadows, riparian areas, alfalfa and pasture fields (especially with poor drainage), orchards and other disturbed moist areas.
Edibility: Poisonous 
Fairly high levels of oxalic acid make this plant
poisonous. Young leaves are sometimes cooked with at least one change of water to reduce levels of oxalic acid
(and the associated bitterness). Green Deane at EatTheWeeds.com writes “Mainer Merritt Fernald, who was the Harvard wunderkind of botany from around 1900 to 1950, said all of the 17 native Rumex species in North America were edible. He completely failed to mention most of them are so bitter it would take days of boiling to make them palatable, if ever.” He nevertheless goes on
to discuss the culinary properties of the Rumex genus.
 |
Similar species. |
Online References:
References:
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 232
Acetosa oblongifolia (L.) Á. Löve & D. Löve
Rumex obtusifolius L. ssp. agrestis (Fr.) Danser
Rumex obtusifolius L. ssp. sylvestris (Wallr.) Rech. f.
Rumex obtusifolius L. var. sylvestris (Wallr.) Koch
Rumex obtusifolius L. ssp. agrestis (Fr.) Danser
Rumex obtusifolius L. ssp. sylvestris (Wallr.) Rech. f.
Rumex obtusifolius L. var. sylvestris (Wallr.) Koch
7/25/2025 · River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 8 × 8″ (19 × 19 cm) 
6/24/2015 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Ctr, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (16 × 23 cm) 
7/3/2012 · Yellow Trail from Pearl Hill State Park to Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 1 × 1½′ (34 × 52 cm) 
7/17/2009 · Mt. Lebanon St, Trail, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 1½ × 2′ (45 × 67 cm) 
6/13/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts 
ID is uncertain 
4/7/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 13 × 9″ (32 × 24 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/25/2025 · River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 9 × 13″ (22 × 34 cm) 
4/6/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 15 × 11″ (37 × 27 cm) ID is uncertain 
4/14/2010 · Mt. Lebanon St., Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm) 
7/25/2025 · River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 9 × 13″ (22 × 34 cm) 
7/3/2012 · Yellow Trail from Pearl Hill State Park to Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 17″ (29 × 44 cm) 
7/3/2012 · Yellow Trail from Pearl Hill State Park to Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 17″ (29 × 44 cm) 
7/26/2025 · River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 6 × 9″ (16 × 22 cm) 
7/26/2025 · River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm) 
7/26/2025 · River Point Conservation Area, Falmouth, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm) 
7/3/2012 · Yellow Trail from Pearl Hill State Park to Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 17″ (29 × 44 cm) 
4/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 9″ (18 × 22 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Caryophyllidae | Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts |
| Order | Caryophyllales | Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants |
| Family | Polygonaceae | Knotweed or smartweed family |
| Genus | Rumex | Ancient Latin for “docks or sorrels” |
| Species | obtusifolius | “With blunt or obtuse leaves” |
Rumex obtusifolius description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.