Rumex
dock, sorrel
16 species
5 subspecies and varieties
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Rumex acetosa – alpine sorrel, common sorrel, garden sorrel, Lapland sorrel
Distribution: Occurring in scattered locations in Washington; Alaska to Oregon, east across Canada to the Great Lakes region and northeastern North America.
Habitat: Roadsides, wastelots, and other disturbed sites at low elevations.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: April-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rumex acetosella – common sheep sorrel
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Balds, prairies, meadows, pastures, fields, roadsides, wastelots, lawns and other disturbed open areas from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rumex conglomeratus – clustered dock, sharp dock
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Nevada and Arizona; also in eastern North America.
Habitat: A weed of waste ground.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rumex crassus – fleshy willow dock
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest along the outer coast in Washington; Washington to California.
Habitat: Coastal dunes, sandy shores, and marshes
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rumex crispus – curly dock, sour dock
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Meadows, fields, roadsides, wastelots, and other disturbed, open areas.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Biennial, Perennial
Rumex dentatus – toothed dock
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east across North America in scattered locations to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Ditches, shores, and ballast.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Biennial, Perennial
Rumex maritimus – golden dock
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to eastern North America except for southeastern U.S.
Habitat: Shores, wetlands, and disturbed ground.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Annual, Biennial
• ssp. fueginus – American golden dock, Tierra del Fuego dock
Rumex obtusifolius – bitter dock
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Moist roadsides and wasteland.
Origin: Introduced from Euraisa
Flowers: March-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rumex occidentalis – western dock
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and eastern Canada.
Habitat: Moist to swampy areas and wet meadows, from the sea coast to foothill valleys.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. occidentalis – western dock
Rumex patientia – patience dock
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Roadsides and other disturbed, open ground
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: May-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rumex paucifolius – alpine sheep sorrel, alpine sorrel, mountain sorrel
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Moist grasslands, stream banks, and montane to alpine meadows.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June -August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rumex persicarioides – seashore dock, yellow dock
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest along the coast in Washington; British Columbia to California, also in eastern North America.
Habitat: Beaches, shores, and slightly saline marshes.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rumex salicifolius – willow dock
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Atlantic Coast
Habitat: Streambanks, moist meadows, beaches, alkaline shores, roadsides, and other open places from low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
• var. angustivalvis – western willow dock
• var. transitorius – narrow-leaved dock, Pacific willow dock
• var. triangulivalvis – triangular-valved dock, white willow dock
Rumex sanguineus – red-vein dock
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to Oregon, also in eastern North America.
Habitat: sSream banks, disturbed ground, shores, and marshes.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: June-September
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rumex stenophyllus – narrow-leaved dock, narrowleaf dock
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Alberta, Montana, and Wyoming, scattered eastward to the eastern U.S.
Habitat: Dune swales, marshes, shores, fens, and ditches.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Rumex venosus – veiny dock, winged dock
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alberta to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains.
Habitat: Sand dunes and sandy river banks to dry, gravelly soil, sagebrush deserts and grasslands at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Growth Duration: Perennial