Golden Dock

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• dentate dock
• fiddle dock
• toothed dock
• Aegean Dock
• Indian dock

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Polygonaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Rumex and the specific species Rumex dentatus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found throughout Germany, the Netherlands, and the Czechia-Slovakia region. Additionally, the plant extends its range into Southwestern Europe, specifically within France. Consequently, its geographical footprint spans diverse climatic zones from the north to the southwest.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rumex dentatus is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environments, typically flourishing in disturbed or moist habitats such as crop fields, inhabited places, irrigation channels, old fields, and along the banks of rivers. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from low-lying areas at 30 m AMSL to high-altitude regions reaching a maximum of 2500 m AMSL. Throughout its range, it maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1265 m AMSL, demonstrating a significant capacity to colonize various topographical gradients and moisture-rich ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1265 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, inhabited places, irrigation channals, old fields, rivers

Life history

The life history of Rumex dentatus is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives the unfavorable periods of its environment primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until conditions become suitable for rapid growth. This life form allows the plant to effectively exploit seasonal resources, rapidly establishing its vegetative structure before transitioning into its reproductive phase to ensure the next generation.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Rumex dentatus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is a self-supporting species that does not function as a climber or a liana, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. Primarily a terrestrial plant, it occupies land environments rather than aquatic or semiaquatic habitats. In terms of stature, it exhibits a relatively low profile, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.7 m, maintaining a mean height of approximately 0.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.7 m

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological development of the foliage in Rumex dentatus is characterized by significant morphological variation in leaf dimensions, which plays a crucial role in its photosynthetic capacity and resource acquisition. The leaves exhibit a broad range of longitudinal growth, with a mean leaf length of 8 cm, though individual specimens can range from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 12 cm. Complementing this vertical expansion is a lateral growth pattern where leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 1.5 cm and a maximum of 3 cm. This variability in leaf area, dictated by the interplay between length and width, allows the plant to optimize light interception and gas exchange within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rumex dentatus is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and specialized seed dispersal mechanisms. The flowering period typically begins in April and concludes within the same month, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Following pollination, the plant produces small fruits that typically measure an average of 0.225 cm in length, with a range spanning from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.25 cm. The resulting seeds are extremely lightweight, exhibiting an average mass of approximately 0.001119 g; individual seed mass varies significantly, with a minimum recorded at 0.00043 g and a maximum of 0.00245 g. To facilitate the spread of these seeds, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport its progeny to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit length max:

0.25 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.225 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Seed mass max:

0.00245 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00111916666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00043 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rumex dentatus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Root

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Rumex dentatus has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthraquinones, Flavonoids, emodin, helonioside A, quercetin.

Anthraquinones

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH
3. Heliyon

Flavonoids

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Heliyon

emodin

1. Phytochemistry
2. Heliyon

helonioside A

1. Heliyon
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

quercetin

1. Heliyon
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

2-Methoxy-6-acetyl-7-methyljuglone

1. Phytochemistry

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

BUTYL ISOBUTYL PHTHALATE

1. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

CHROMONE

1. Phytochemistry

Chromones

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Activities

Rumex dentatus has 7 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Anticancer

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antifungal

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antimicrobial

1. Heliyon

Antioxidant

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Astringent

1. Heliyon

Diuretic

1. Heliyon

Medicinal Uses

Rumex dentatus has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Oral squamous cell carcinoma, Staphylococcus aureus, acariasis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations