Common Name: Alpine Dock

General Information

Rumex alpinus is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a stout, creeping , rhizomatous rootstock; it produces one to several erect stems that are much-branched above that can grow around 30 - 200cn tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It has occasionally been cultivated for its edible leaves and has also been grown for medicinal uses[, ].

Known Hazards

Plants can contain quite high levels of oxalic acid, which is what gives the leaves of many members of this genus an acid-lemon flavour. Perfectly alright in small quantities, the leaves should not be eaten in large amounts since the oxalic acid can lock-up other nutrients in the food, especially calcium, thus causing mineral deficiencies. The oxalic acid content will be reduced if the plant is cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Central and southern Europe to W. Asia - Germany to Spain, east to Ukraine and through the Balkans to Turkey and Iran. Naturalized in Britain[].

Habitat

Along the banks of streams and by the sides of roads, it is also found near human habitations, in hilly areas[]. Wooded slopes, coppices, banks of brooks[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Hardy to about -20°c[].
A very easily grown and tolerant plant[], it succeeds in most soils, preferring a moist moderately fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position[].
Alpine dock was at one time cultivated for its edible leaves, though it has now fallen out of favour to be replaced by less strong-tasting plants[, , ]. This is a pity because it is a very productive and useful vegetable and can produce its leaves all through the winter if the weather is not too severe[].
A very important plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterflies[].
Being wind -pollinated, Rumex species usually hybridize readily, especially with other members of the genus they are more closely related to[]..

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[, , , , , , ]. They can also be dried for later use[]. A strong flavour, the leaves can be used in salads in late autumn to the spring, but are better cooked like spinach[]. The fresh leaves can be available for most months of the year, only dying down for a short period in severe winters[]. The leaves often become bitter in the summer[]. In taste trials, this has proved to be a very popular autumn and spring cooked leaf, making an excellent spinach[].

Medicinal

The root is astringent and laxative[, ]. It has a regulatory effect on the digestive system, similar to but weaker than rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum)[]. It can act either as a laxative or a cure for diarrhoea according to dosage[]. The root is harvested in early spring and dried for later use[].

Other Uses

Dark green to brown and dark grey dyes can be obtained from the roots, they do not need a mordant[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. The seed can also be sown as soon as it is ripe when it will germinate rapidly and will provide edible leaves from early spring the following year. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring. Division is easy at almost any time of the year, though the plants establish more rapidly in the spring[]. Use a sharp spade or knife to divide the rootstock, ensuring that there is at least one growth bud on each section of root. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.