Common Name: Field Dock

General Information

Rumex pseudonatronatus is a herbaceous perennial plant with erect, unbranched (or sometimes branched above) stems growing from a large, vertical rootstock that is around 10 - 20mm in diameter; the plant can grow around 80 - 120cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use in cosmetic preparations and for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

Temperate Eurasia - Sweden, Ukraina and Austria, eastwards through central Asia and Siberia to the Russian Far East and eastern China

Habitat

Ruderal and alluvial habitats, slightly saline soil, waste places, roadsides, shores of rivers and lakes, meadows, cultivated fields[]. Forest margins on mountain slopes, moist valleys; at elevations from 300 - 3,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generally succeed in a variety of soils, but they prefer deep fertile moderately heavy soils that are humus-rich, moisture-retentive and also well-drained, with a position in full-sun or part shade[].
Being wind -pollinated, Rumex species usually hybridize readily, especially with other members of the genus they are more closely related to[].
This species is often confused with Rumex longifolius and Rumex crispus[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - harvested in the spring and used as a vegetable

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

An extract of the flowers, leaves and stems is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring.