Rumex obtusifolius

Rumex obtusifolius L.

Broad-leaved dock

Broad-leaved dock is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant that can grow to a height of 40 to 150 cm. It is easily recognizable by its very large oval leaves with cordate bases and rounded tips, some of the lower leaves having red stems. The edges of the leaves are slightly wavy, and the upper surface is hairless while the under surface may be papillose. The leaves can grow up to 30 cm in length and 15 cm wide. The plant has a large taproot with numerous branches extending up to 150 cm deep, tough stems that are often reddish, and unbranched until just below the inflorescence. The junctions of the petioles with the stems are covered by a sheath formed by two fused stipules known as an ocrea. The inflorescence consists of large clusters of racemes containing small greenish flowers that change to red as they mature.

Details

Order:

Caryophyllales

Family:

Polygonaceae

Genus:

Rumex

Chemistry:

Broad-leaved dock contains oxalic acid, which can be hazardous if consumed in large quantities.

Uses:

The leaves of the plant can be used as salad, to prepare a vegetable broth, or cooked like spinach. The dried seeds can be ground to make flour. In some regions, the leaves are used as an alternative to other plants in making sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls). A tea prepared from the root was traditionally used to cure boils. The plant is also known for its traditional use in counteracting the itching caused by stinging nettles, although this remedy is not scientifically supported.

Flowering time:

June through September

Sowing time:

Plant height:

40 to 150 cm

Flower color:

Greenish changing to red as they mature

Suitable habitat:

Arable land, meadows, waste ground, roadsides, ditches, shorelines, riverbanks, woodland margins, forest clearings, and orchards.

Info

Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.

Tenders

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