Short Description
broad-leaved dock is overwintering and can grow up to 120 cm tall.
The dark green leaves are heart-shaped or oval to elongated. They become increasingly smaller towards the top.
The erect stem, branched and grooved from the center, often has a reddish tinge.
The flowers are inconspicuous and green or reddish. The petals are serrated. They hang in dense clusters in elongated inflorescences.
The fruit is a triangular nut. It has three red, triangular and serrated leaflets.
Features
Broad-leaved dock
Rumex obtusifolius
grooved, reddish overflowing stem
serrated petals
In the city
It colonizes ruderal sites along ditches and roadsides and in rubble areas, meadows, pastures and fields. It prefers moist, nutrient-rich loam and clay soils in light to semi-shady places.
Fun Facts
The leaflets on the fruits have aerial parts that allow spreading with the water. The teeth on the leaflets hook into the fur of animals.
Spread with manure from grazing livestock is also possible. The liquid manure also serves as fertilizer, so that mass stands often occur on pastures.
The flowers are strongly allergenic (hay fever).
The flowering period is from July to August.
It lives for several years and generally flowers and fruits annually (perennial plant).
- Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
- Usage:
The dried seeds are used as a spice.
It is native and widespread in Germany.
The young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. However, because of the high oxalic acid content, one should pay attention to intolerances.
Sources
Habitus, AnRo0002, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20170609Rumex_obtusifolius.jpg
Früchte, AnRo0002, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20170703Rumex_obtusifolius1.jpg
Habitus, H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rumex_obtusifolius_001.JPG
Kammer, P. M. (2016) Pflanzen einfach bestimmen. Schritt für Schritt einheimische Arten kennenlernen, Bern: Haupt Verlag.
Spohn, M., Golte-Bechtle, M. & Spohn, R. (2015) Was blüht denn da? Stuttgart: Franckh Kosmos Verlag.
Page „Stumpfblättriger Ampfer“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 04.07.2018, 20:45 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stumpfbl%C3%A4ttriger_Ampfer&oldid=178878168 (Accessed: 27.08.2018).