We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Rumex arifolius - All.

Common Name Maiden Sorrel
Family Polygonaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards Plants can contain quite high levels of oxalic acid, which is what gives the leaves of many members of this genus an acid-lemon flavour. Perfectly alright in small quantities, the leaves should not be eaten in large amounts since the oxalic acid can lock-up other nutrients in the food, especially calcium, thus causing mineral deficiencies. The oxalic acid content will be reduced if the plant is cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[238].
Habitats Mountainous meadows[50] and pine forests[27].
Range S. Europe.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Rumex arifolius Maiden Sorrel


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Rumex_arifolius0_clean.jpg
Rumex arifolius Maiden Sorrel
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Abalg

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Rumex arifolius is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft). The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

R. montanus.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 27, 105]. They can be added to salads or cooked as a potherb[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Dye

Although no specific mention has been made for this species, dark green to brown and dark grey dyes can be obtained from the roots of many species in this genus, They do not need a mordant[168].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in most soils but prefers a deep fertile moderately heavy soil that is humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained and a position in full-sun or part shade[200]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation (Buryatia, Gorno-Altay, Yakutia-Sakha, Altay, Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, Kemerovskaja oblast, Tyumen), Russian Federation (Kamcatskij kraj, Sakhalin) NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alberta, British Columbia), United States (Montana, Wyoming, Alaska), Greenland EUROPE: Finland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland (south), Slovakia, Russian Federation (Komi, Arkhangelsk, Neneckij avtonomnyj okrug, Murmansk), Ukraine (west), Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (northeast), France (s., e., & Corsica)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Rumex abyssinicusSpinach RhubarbPerennial3.0 -  LMHSNM101
Rumex acetosaSorrel, Garden sorrelPerennial0.6 3-7  LMHSNM534
Rumex acetosellaSheeps Sorrel, Common sheep sorrelPerennial0.3 4-8 FLMHSNM431
Rumex alpinusAlpine Dock, Munk's rhubarbPerennial1.2 4-8 MLMHSNM421
Rumex angiocarpusCommon sheep sorrelPerennial0.3 0-0  LMHSNM101
Rumex aquaticusRed Dock, Western dockPerennial1.8 0-0  LMHSNWeWa131
Rumex arcticusArctic DockPerennial0.0 -  LMHSNWe211
Rumex berlandieriamamastlaPerennial0.6 -  LMHSNM101
Rumex browniiSwamp DockPerennial0.6 -  LMHSNM201
Rumex bucephalophorusred dockAnnual/Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNDM101
Rumex conglomeratusSharp Dock, Clustered dockPerennial1.0 0-0  LMHSNM121
Rumex crispusCurled Dock, Curly dockPerennial0.6 4-8  LMHSNM232
Rumex daiwoosour dockPerennial1.0 -  LMHSNMWe121
Rumex dentatustoothed dockAnnual/Biennial0.6 -  LMHSNM111
Rumex gmelinii Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNMWe101
Rumex graminifoliusGrassleaf sorrelPerennial0.1 0-0  LMHSNM101
Rumex hastatus Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNDM221
Rumex hydrolapathumGreat Water DockPerennial1.8 5-9  LMHSNMWeWa111
Rumex hymenosepalusCanaigre, Canaigre dockPerennial1.0 0-0  LMHSNM221
Rumex japonicus Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNM201
Rumex longifoliusdooryard dockPerennial1.2 -  LMHSNM111
Rumex maritimusGolden DockAnnual0.5 -  LMHSNMWe121
Rumex mexicanusMexican DockPerennial1.0 -  LMHSNM121
Rumex nepalensis Perennial1.2 -  LMHSNM121
Rumex obtusifoliusRound-Leaved Dock, Bitter dockPerennial1.0 4-8  LMHSNM123
Rumex occidentalisWestern DockPerennial1.8 -  LMHSNM111
Rumex papillarisAcederaPerennial0.2 6-10 FLMHNDM301
Rumex patientiaHerb PatiencePerennial1.5 5-10  LMHSNM311
Rumex paucifoliusFewleaved Dock, Alpine sheep sorrelPerennial0.0 0-0  LMHSNMWe101
12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

All.

Botanical References

50

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Rumex arifolius  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.