Common Name: Bladder Dock

General Information

Rumex vesicarius is an annual or perennial, rhizomatous herb growing up to 50 cm tall, strongly branched from the base[]
The edible leaves are gathered from the wild and consumed locally[]. The plant is sometimes cultivated for its edible leaves in Indonesia, and occasionally sold in local markets there[].
The plant has become a difficult to eradicate weed after introduction into some areas, such as Australia[].

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

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Range

N. Africa - Morocco and Mauritania east to Egypt, Sudan and Somalia, through the Arabia and Iran to India and Myanmar

Habitat

Dry areas among loose stones, on grassy or gravelly slopes, at elevations from sea-level up to 1,150 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the drier regions of the warm temperate to tropical zones, it has been grown with some success in more humid areas, such as Tanzania[].
Succeeds in most soils, preferring a moist moderately fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position[].
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 as a vegetable[, , , ]. An acid flavour[], they are used like sorrel as a flavouring in salads or as a spinach[].

Medicinal

The leaves are aperient, astringent, diuretic and cooling[].

The seed is cooling. It is roasted and used in the treatment of dysentery[].

The juice of the plant is cooling[]. It is useful in treating heat of the stomach, to allay the pain of toothache and, by its astringent properties, to check nausea[].

Other Uses

Although no specific mention has been made for this species, dark green to brown and dark grey dyes can be obtained from the roots of many species in this genus, They do not need a mordant[].

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.