Rumex

Rumex is a genus of flowering plants in the family Polygonaceae, commonly known as docks and sorrels. The genus contains around 200 species and is distributed across temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Members range from annuals to perennials; several species are cultivated for leaves, and many act as weeds in disturbed habitats.

Most Rumex species are herbaceous plants with simple, alternate leaves that are often lanceolate or elliptic, sometimes forming a basal rosette. They bear a tall inflorescence with dense panicles of small, greenish flowers. The fruit is a small four-angled achene.

They commonly grow in meadows, along riverbanks, roadsides, and disturbed ground, thriving in moist soils. Several species are considered weedy or invasive in certain regions.

Some well-known species include Rumex acetosa (common sorrel), Rumex acetosella (sheep sorrel), Rumex obtusifolius (broadleaf dock), Rumex crispus (curly dock), and Rumex patientia (patience dock). Sorrel leaves are edible and prized for their lemony-tart flavor, used in salads, soups, and sauces. Cooking can reduce its oxalic acid content. Oxalates make excessive consumption unsuitable for individuals with kidney stones or other oxalate-related conditions.

The flowers are typically wind-pollinated and inconspicuous. Rumex species can be weedy and competitively persistent; several species have been introduced beyond their native range and naturalized.