# docks and sorrels (*Rumex*) Docks and sorrels are leafy plants that often grow in gardens and fields. They have a tangy taste and can be used in salads or soups. These plants are fun to explore and can be found in many places! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas, Gardens, Fields - **Also known as:** Dock Leaves, Sorrels ![docks and sorrels](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rumex_patientia_kz01.jpg&width=800) Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rumex_patientia_kz01.jpg) ## Appearance The docks and sorrels has long, often wavy or arrow-shaped leaves that can be deep green to reddish-purple. Its tall, slender stems bear dense clusters of tiny green, red, or brown flowers, which later form distinctive rust-colored seed heads. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Polygonaceae - **Genus:** Rumex ## Interesting facts - A single dock plant can create tens of thousands of seeds each year! - People have used dock leaves for ages to wrap food or soothe stings! - Some sorrel leaves taste lemony and are used in delicious soups and salads! - Their seeds can sprout up to 80 years after being buried! ## Special abilities - **Tough Taproots:** Docks and sorrels can grow long taproots that reach deep water, helping them survive dry periods and making them hard to pull out. - **Seed Superpower:** This plant produces thousands of tiny seeds that can stay alive in the soil for many decades, ready to sprout later. - **Sour Shield:** Docks and sorrels have oxalic acid in their leaves, which can give them a sour taste and discourage animals from eating too much. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-150 cm - **Spread:** 20-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.1-0.3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Small Tortoiseshell](https://www.snappit.app/explore/small-tortoiseshell) (*Aglais urticae*) — caterpillars feed on leaves - **Eaten by:** [Sheep](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sheep) (*Ovis aries*) — graze on young foliage - **Eaten by:** Wood Mouse (*Apodemus sylvaticus*) — eats the nutritious seeds ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Agricultural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/agricultural): This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or tasting any plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify docks and sorrels? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is docks and sorrels? 30-150 cm ### How wide does docks and sorrels spread? 20-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on docks and sorrels? 0.1-0.3 cm ### When does docks and sorrels bloom? Late spring to summer ### Is docks and sorrels edible? Yes ### Is docks and sorrels toxic? Mild ### What is docks and sorrels's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Spring Hill District Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/spring-hill-district-park) — Virginia, US · Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Docks And Sorrels: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/docks-and-sorrels)