October: Sorrel or Dock
Meadow
Rumex acetosa
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
or as dock
Rumex obtusifolius
Order: Caryphyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
habitat: open grassy space
distribution: widespread throughout the British Isles
I thought it was sorrel when I worked on this print. But it can be dock. They belong to the same family, which is why they look quite similar. But the leaves of sorrel are smaller than the ones of dock, and shaped like arrows. The leaves of this print are bigger and longer and not arrow-like. I can tell now it is dock, which can be seen everywhere on grasslands, roadside etc.
I was confused to distinguish between sorrel and dock, for it was because the flowers are resemble as they are both of the same polygonaceae family. Both are edible plants, though, only young leaves can taste. Nowadays you can even buy sorrel leaves for salad, which are usually mixed together with other salad leaves.
The seeds of both dock and sorrel turn fiery red (soon after brown as they dry) in the autumn. I found the seeds are also edible and the grounded seeds can be used as flour. No wonder, dock is a buckwheat family. But I cannot guarantee how its flour goes well as an ingredient. Besides you have to harvest a massive amount of seeds.
Dock is known for a herbal remedy, especially to ease the nettle sting. (See my blog on September 2016 'Nettle')as NHS Choice says on its website.
Dock and sorrel, both grow widely all over the Europe (even they can be seen in Japan). They grow everywhere, on grassland, roadside, footpath, between the stones of pavement, sometimes through the tarred surface. Although we see them everywhere, these wild plants are often neglected. Let us enjoy the autumnal colour, and try the young leaves next spring.
Rumex acetosa
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
or as dock
Rumex obtusifolius
Order: Caryphyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
habitat: open grassy space
distribution: widespread throughout the British Isles
I thought it was sorrel when I worked on this print. But it can be dock. They belong to the same family, which is why they look quite similar. But the leaves of sorrel are smaller than the ones of dock, and shaped like arrows. The leaves of this print are bigger and longer and not arrow-like. I can tell now it is dock, which can be seen everywhere on grasslands, roadside etc.
I was confused to distinguish between sorrel and dock, for it was because the flowers are resemble as they are both of the same polygonaceae family. Both are edible plants, though, only young leaves can taste. Nowadays you can even buy sorrel leaves for salad, which are usually mixed together with other salad leaves.
The seeds of both dock and sorrel turn fiery red (soon after brown as they dry) in the autumn. I found the seeds are also edible and the grounded seeds can be used as flour. No wonder, dock is a buckwheat family. But I cannot guarantee how its flour goes well as an ingredient. Besides you have to harvest a massive amount of seeds.
Dock is known for a herbal remedy, especially to ease the nettle sting. (See my blog on September 2016 'Nettle')as NHS Choice says on its website.
Dock and sorrel, both grow widely all over the Europe (even they can be seen in Japan). They grow everywhere, on grassland, roadside, footpath, between the stones of pavement, sometimes through the tarred surface. Although we see them everywhere, these wild plants are often neglected. Let us enjoy the autumnal colour, and try the young leaves next spring.
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
or as dock
Rumex obtusifolius
Order: Caryphyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex
habitat: open grassy space
distribution: widespread throughout the British Isles
I thought it was sorrel when I worked on this print. But it can be dock. They belong to the same family, which is why they look quite similar. But the leaves of sorrel are smaller than the ones of dock, and shaped like arrows. The leaves of this print are bigger and longer and not arrow-like. I can tell now it is dock, which can be seen everywhere on grasslands, roadside etc.
I was confused to distinguish between sorrel and dock, for it was because the flowers are resemble as they are both of the same polygonaceae family. Both are edible plants, though, only young leaves can taste. Nowadays you can even buy sorrel leaves for salad, which are usually mixed together with other salad leaves.
The seeds of both dock and sorrel turn fiery red (soon after brown as they dry) in the autumn. I found the seeds are also edible and the grounded seeds can be used as flour. No wonder, dock is a buckwheat family. But I cannot guarantee how its flour goes well as an ingredient. Besides you have to harvest a massive amount of seeds.
Dock is known for a herbal remedy, especially to ease the nettle sting. (See my blog on September 2016 'Nettle')as NHS Choice says on its website.
Dock and sorrel, both grow widely all over the Europe (even they can be seen in Japan). They grow everywhere, on grassland, roadside, footpath, between the stones of pavement, sometimes through the tarred surface. Although we see them everywhere, these wild plants are often neglected. Let us enjoy the autumnal colour, and try the young leaves next spring.
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