🌿 Morphology
🌞 Growing conditions
🌍 Origin and family
🌾 Uses
Warning: Despite the care taken in writing this sheet, it is essential to cross-reference sources before using or consuming any plant. When in doubt, consult a qualified professional
Permaculture uses
Leaves are edible when young, though high in oxalic acid. Cooking reduces oxalic acid content. Used as a leafy green in salads or cooked like spinach. Can be used as a livestock feed. Considered a dynamic accumulator, gathering minerals from the soil and making them available to other plants when used as a mulch or compost.
Permapeople description
Alpine dock is a perennial plant in the buckwheat family, native to the Alps and other mountain ranges in Europe. It is found in moist meadows and along streams.
Botanical description
Rumex alpinus is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Polygonaceae family. It typically grows to a height of 0.5 to 2 meters. It has large, heart-shaped leaves that are dark green and slightly fleshy. The plant produces tall, erect flower stalks bearing numerous small, greenish-red flowers. The fruits are small achenes. It prefers moist, nutrient-rich soils and is commonly found in mountainous regions.
Companion planting
No specific companion planting information readily available, but as a dynamic accumulator, it could potentially benefit plants requiring potassium. Avoid planting near plants sensitive to high levels of oxalic acid in the soil.
Propagation methods
Propagation is primarily by seed sowing in spring or autumn. Root division is also possible in spring or autumn. Self-seeding can also occur, leading to natural propagation.
History and traditions
Historically, Rumex alpinus has been used in traditional medicine as a laxative and diuretic. Some cultures have consumed the leaves as a famine food during times of scarcity. It was also used as a poultice for wounds and skin irritations in some folk medicine traditions.
Usage calendar
Flowering occurs from June to August. Seed harvesting takes place in late summer to autumn. Leaf harvesting for consumption is best done in spring when the leaves are young and tender. Planting or division is best done in spring or autumn.