Bladder dock

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bladder dock
• rosy dock
• Bladder-dock
• Ruby dock

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rumex vesicarius var. subdentatus
• Lapathum vesicarium
• Acetosa vesicaria
• Rumex clementii
• Rumex bolosii
• Rumex americanus
• Rumex vesicarius var. rhodophysa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales, it is further categorized into the family Polygonaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Rumex.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across Europe and Africa. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Germany. Its presence extends into Southeastern Europe, specifically within the country of Greece and on the island of Kriti. Furthermore, the species is well-established across Northern Africa. Within this African territory, the plant is documented in both Algeria and Egypt.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rumex vesicarius is characterized by its specific distribution across varied altitudinal gradients, typically thriving within a defined vertical niche. This plant is most commonly found occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 500 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1500 m AMSL. Within this specific montane or sub-montane belt, its presence is dictated by the interplay of temperature fluctuations and moisture availability characteristic of these mid-level elevations. The environmental conditions within this 1000-meter vertical span influence its growth patterns, reproductive success, and the concentration of its medicinal compounds, making these specific altitudinal zones critical for its natural habitat and survival.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Rumex vesicarius 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, the plant avoids unfavorable environmental conditions by surviving primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until the next favorable season. Its biological strategy relies on rapid growth and reproduction to ensure the continuation of the species before the onset of seasonal changes that terminate the life of the individual plant.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Rumex vesicarius is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, appearing as both a herb and a forb. The plant exhibits a self-supporting structure, lacking any climbing or vine-like tendencies, and maintains an ascending shoot orientation. It is a terrestrial species, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variation in height, with a minimum height of 0.1 m, a mean height of 0.5 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 4 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rumex vesicarius is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and metabolic processes that govern its growth and nutrient acquisition. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a fundamental metabolic strategy for carbon fixation that dictates its efficiency in various environmental conditions. Morphologically, its foliage displays distinct variability in size, with leaf lengths typically ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 10 cm. This is accompanied by a leaf width that fluctuates between a minimum of 4 cm and a maximum of 8 cm. Furthermore, regarding its nutritional physiology and symbiotic capabilities, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from its surrounding substrate rather than through biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rumex vesicarius is characterized by a flowering period that typically begins in February and concludes in April. The plant produces its flowers in a raceme inflorescence, utilizing an abiotic pollination syndrome specifically adapted to wind. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of an achene, which is indehiscent in nature and displays a brown coloration. These fruits are relatively small, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.28 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm. The resulting seeds are lightweight, featuring a mean mass of approximately 0.01092725 g, with individual seed masses varying between a minimum of 0.002639 g and a maximum of 0.01965 g. For the spread of its progeny, the species employs an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on the wind to transport its seeds to new locations.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit colour :

brown

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Fruit length min:

0.28 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Inflorescence :

raceme

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Seed mass max:

0.01965 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01092725 g

Seed mass min:

0.002639 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rumex vesicarius has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, stem.

Leaf

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Seed

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Stem

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Chemicals

Rumex vesicarius has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 12-Hydroxy-3-keto-bisnor-4-cholenic acid, 24-Methyldesmosterol, 5-O-Caffeoylquinic acid, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Fatty acids.

12-Hydroxy-3-keto-bisnor-4-cholenic acid

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

24-Methyldesmosterol

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

5-O-Caffeoylquinic acid

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Fatty acids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Fucosterol

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Peptide

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Rhazimol

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Saponins

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Rumex vesicarius has 7 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Vasorelaxant, Analgesic, Anticoagulant, Antihypertensive, Antispasmodic.

Vasorelaxant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Cardiovascular & hematological disorders drug targets

Analgesic

1. Cardiovascular & hematological disorders drug targets

Anticoagulant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antihypertensive

1. Cardiovascular & hematological disorders drug targets

Antispasmodic

1. Cardiovascular & hematological disorders drug targets

Cardioprotective

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Diuretic

1. Cardiovascular & hematological disorders drug targets

Medicinal Uses

Rumex vesicarius has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, analgesic, antihypertensive, antispasmodic.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations