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Rumex salicifolius
Also called Willow Leaved Dock, Willow Leaf Dock
Willow dock is a variable perennial herb of the buckwheat family, native to western North America and sometimes found as a roadside weed in Europe. It grows as a slender, spreading or upright plant that tolerates a range of conditions.
Rumex salicifolius is a species of flowering perennial plant in the knotweed family known by the common names willow dock and willow-leaved dock. It is native to much of western North America, and more specifically, in southern and central parts of California, and some parts of Arizona and Nevada. It can also be found in parts of Europe as an introduced species and a roadside weed. It is an extremely variable plant which is generally divided into many varieties, some of which may actually be specimens of other species.
Rumex salicifolius is found in different parts of California, along with being found in Arizona, Nevada, and Northern Mexico. More recently it has been found as an introduced species in parts of Europe.
The Zuni people use the mexicanus variety medicinally. A strong infusion of the root is made and given to women by their husbands to help them to become pregnant. The ground root, or an infusion of it, is taken also for sore throat, especially by sword swallowers. This species is also used in the treatment and management of chronic pain of the aboriginal people of the Canadian Boreal Forest. It is used to treat chronic migraine/headache, chronic back pain, and chronic rheumatism/arthritis. In studies it has proven to be successful in aiding people with anti-inflammation and significant pain relief.
Sorrel · Sheep's Sorrel · Curled Dock · Toothed dock · Cape spinach · Broad-leaved Dock · Patience Dock · Fiddle Dock · Garden Sorrel · Rambling dock · French sorrel · Dock
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Rumex salicifolius by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.
