Citizendia

Broadleaf Dock

Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Division:Magnoliophyta
Class:Magnoliopsida
Order:Caryophyllales
Family:Polygonaceae
Genus:Rumex
Species:R. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Dicotyledons, or "dicots", is a name for a group of Flowering plants whose Seed typically has two embryonic leaves or Cotyledons There Caryophyllales is an order of Flowering plants that includes the cacti, carnations Amaranths Ice plants and most Polygonaceae is a family of flowering plants also known as the "knotweed family" or "smartweed family" The docks and sorrels, Genus Rumex L, are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial and perennial obtusifolius
Binomial name
Rumex obtusifolius
L.

The broadleaf dock, or butter dock, is a perennial weed, native to Europe but can now be found in the United States and many other countries around the world. A perennial plant or perennial ( Latin per, "through" annus, "year" is a Plant that lives for more than WEED (1390 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Spanish format The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

Contents

Identification

Rumex obtusifolius is easily recognizable by its very large leaves, some of the lower leaves having red stems. The edges of the leaves are slightly "crisped" or wavy. The foliage of the plant can grow to about 18 inches in height. The stems have nodes covered by an ocrea, a thin, paper-like membrane - a characteristic of the Polygonaceae family. Polygonaceae is a family of flowering plants also known as the "knotweed family" or "smartweed family"

Large clusters of racemes contain green flowers that change to red as they mature. A raceme is a type of Inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate Flowers &mdash flowers having short A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also They are held on a single stalk that grows above the leaves and blooms June through September. The seeds produced are reddish-brown. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored

Seedlings can be identified by the oval leaves with red stems and rolled leaves sprouting from the center of the plant. A seedling is a young plant Sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a Seed.

Rumex crispus - curly dock - is very similar in appearance but with thinner and wavier leaves. Curled Dock ( Rumex crispus) also known as Curly Dock or Yellow Dock, is a perennial Flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae In more detail, the calyx of curly dock has smooth margins while the calyx of broadleaf dock has horned margins. A sepal (from Latin separatus "separate" + petalum "petal" is a part of the flower of Angiosperms or flower plants

Medicinal uses of the herb

Leaves from the dock plant are known for their ability to relieve the pain from the stings of common nettles Urtica dioica. Nettle is the common name for between 30-45 species of Flowering plants of the genus Urtica in the family Urticaceae, with a cosmopolitan though [1] A dock leaf is rubbed onto the affected area to relieve any discomfort. The 'milk' of the dock leaf is known to contain tannins and oxalic acid, which is an astringent. An astringent (also spelled adstringent) substance is a chemical that tends to shrink or constrict Body tissues usually locally after Topical medicinal [2] A tincture of dock is helpful for problems of the menopause. Menopause is the permanent shutting down of the female Reproductive system, a considerable length of time before the end of the lifespan [3] According to folk remedies, dock root has a pronounced detoxing effect on the liver and it cleanses the skin. [4]

Eradication

Broadleaf dock is considered a weed and is slightly poisonous. In the context of Biology, poisons are substances that can cause damage, Illness, or Death to Organisms usually by It is designated an "injurious weed" under the UK Weeds Act 1959[3]. Livestock have been known to get sick after feeding on it. But eradicating the plants is difficult. The perennial plant can have a deep taproot reaching 5 feet down. A Plant 's taproot is a straight tapering Root that grows vertically down Also, the milk of the plant has been known to cause mild dermatitis. Dermatitis is a Blanket term meaning any " Inflammation of the skin" (e

Seeds have toothed wing structures, allowing them to be dispersed by wind or water, and also allow them to attach to animals or machinery to be spread great distances. They can lie dormant for years before germination, making vigilant pulling or tilling essential.

First year plants can seed, making early detection important for eradication.

The main weaknesses of Broadleaf are its poor competition, crowding causes flowering to be delayed for up to three years, and its susceptibility to disturbance. Frequent tilling will disrupt roots and kill seedlings and even older plants. The plant also thrives in moist environments and improved drainage can also help control its growth.

References

  1. ^ "Remember when stung a natural remedy will often be found close at hand. The leaves of the dock contain chemicals that neutralise the sting and also cool the skin. " in [1]
  2. ^ Rumex. Yellow dock, Curled dock. Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius. | Henriette's Herbal Homepage
  3. ^ "Nourish and tonify" in [2]
  4. ^ Howard, Michael. Traditional Folk Remedies (Century, 1987); p133.
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