docks

genus Rumex

Member of knotweed family (family Polygonaceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

Except for old historical records and extremely rare examples that I don't expect to encounter, there are no other wild species of this genus in the bay area.

Key features:

arrangement of stems (from base or middle and/or stems among inflorescences)
shape and length of leaf
length/width of inner perianth lobe, dentate or not

sheep’s sorrel
Rumex acetosella

[easily recognized by its strong red hue]
leaf blade hastate (spearhead-shaped) or sagittate (arrowhead-shaped) or base tapered

(other Rumex species are not hastate or sagittate (but may have a tapered base)

several stems from base
no perianth tubercles
very common

stem generally ± erect
generally unbranched below inflorescence (inflorescence may be branched, however) (example illustration)

Leaves may be intermixed with flowers.

Inner perianth lobe margin generally entire (if toothed or notched, teeth or notches < 0.3 mm)

curly dock
Rumex crispus

inner perianth lobe margin generally entire (if toothed or notched, teeth or notches < 0.3 mm)
inflorescence generally dense
pedicels (3)4–8 mm
inner perianth lobes 3.5–6 mm, 3–5 mm wide
tubercles generally 3, at least 1 larger, > 1 mm wide, but all generally ≪ ⅓ inner perianth lobe width [illustration]
leaf margin strongly wavy, especially near base
very common

clustered dock
Rumex conglomeratus

inner perianth lobe margin generally entire (if toothed or notched, teeth or notches < 0.3 mm)
inflorescence ± open (between whorls)
pedicels 1–4(5) mm, generally ± ≥ inner perianth

flowers are “clustered” close to the stem

inner perianth lobes 2–3 mm, 1–1.6(2) mm wide
tubercles 3, ± equal, almost as wide as lobe [illustration]
leaf margin ± flat
common

Inner perianth lobe margin variously dentate, at least some teeth ≥ 0.3 mm [illustration]

fiddle dock
Rumex pulcher

[easily recognized by the chaotically spreading branches of its inflorescence]
perennial
stem: erect to arching at tip, 2–6(7) dm, branched, slender
leaf: blade 4–10(15) cm, (2)3–5 cm wide
inflorescence: branches spreading
pedicels: 2–5(6) mm, thick
inner perianth lobes 3–6 mm, 2–3 mm wide except teeth, margin generally dentate (± entire) with 2–5(9) teeth, 0.3–2.5 mm, generally on both sides [illustration]
3(1) tubercles, generally warty
common

broad-leaved dock
Rumex obtusifolius

perennial
stem: 6–12(15) dm, generally branched
leaf: blade 20–40 cm, 10–15 cm wide, base generally cordate, margin generally entire, flat
inflorescence: branches generally ascending
pedicels: 2.5–8.5(10) mm, thin
inner perianth lobe 3–6 mm, 2–3.5 mm wide except teeth, margin generally dentate with 2–5 teeth, 0.5–1.8 mm
3 tubercles, 1 larger (2 may be inconspicuous/absent), smooth
scattered

photo

golden dock
Rumex fueginus

annual (biennial)
scattered mostly along the pacific coast

photo

pacific golden dock
Rumex persicarioides

annual (biennial)
scattered near the coast, only records > 10 years old

photo

western dock
Rumex occidentalis

no perianth tubercles
common mostly directly on the pacific coast

stems decumbent to erect
generally with leafy axillary shoots below terminal inflorescence (example illustration)

A larger leaf sprouts at the base of each branch. Small leaves may also be intermixed with flowers.

photo

california dock
Rumex californicus

generally with leafy axillary shoots below terminal inflorescence
no perianth tubercles
scattered in east bay

willow dock
Rumex salicifolius

generally with leafy axillary shoots below terminal inflorescence
1–3 conspicuous perianth tubercles
common

photo

thickleaf willow dock
Rumex crassus

generally with leafy axillary shoots below terminal inflorescence
1–3 conspicuous perianth tubercles
common mostly directly on the pacific coast

photo

pacific willow dock
Rumex transitorius

generally with leafy axillary shoots below terminal inflorescence
1–3 conspicuous perianth tubercles
scattered mostly near the coast + Monte Bello, Del Valle, Sierra Azul, Nisene Marks

Toxicity of dock, sorrel (Rumex spp.):
2b – These plants contain oxalate crystals but they do not cause immediate problems. These plants have tiny crystals that lodge in the kidneys and can cause kidney damage as well as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
At least one lower-level taxon has differing toxicity.

6 observed taxons / 6 unobserved taxons / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 115 (29 are research grade)

Locations:

Sweeney Ridge National Recreation Area: 11
Russian Ridge OSP: 8
Henry Coe SP: 7
Joseph D. Grant CP: 7
Murray Ranch SP: 6
Skyline Ridge OSP: 6
Almaden Quicksilver CP: 5
Coyote Hills RP: 5
Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP: 5
Santa Teresa CP: 5
Calero CP: 4
Fremont Older OSP: 3
La Honda Creek OSP: 3
Pescadero Creek CP: 3
Sibley Volcanic RP: 3
Coal Creek OSP: 2
Coyote Lake / Harvey Bear Ranch CP: 2
Dimond Canyon Trail, Oakland: 2
Garrapata SP: 2
Golden Gate National Recreation Area: 2
Monte Bello OSP: 2
San Bruno Mountain State & County Park: 2
Stevens Creek CP: 2
Andrew Molera SP
Bear Creek Redwoods OSP
Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve
Garin RP
Huckleberry Botanic RP
Kauai, HI
Lexington Reservoir CP
Mission Peak RP
Máyyan 'Ooyákma Coyote Ridge OSP
Pinnacles NP
Rancho Cañada del Oro OSP
San Pedro Valley CP
San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail
Sierra Azul OSP
Sierra Vista OSP
UCSC Campus Natural Reserve
Waterdog Lake & Open Space
Wilder Ranch SP

Months:

Jan.: 1
Feb.: 2
Mar.: 4
Apr.: 8
May: 25
Jun.: 28
Jul.: 23
Aug.: 11
Sep.: 4
Oct.: 3
Nov.: 3
Dec.: 3

For more details, use advanced search.

Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora

docks

stem generally ± erect generally unbranched below inflorescence (inflorescence may be branched, however) (example illustration)

stems decumbent to erect generally with leafy axillary shoots below terminal inflorescence (example illustration)

stem generally ± erect
generally unbranched below inflorescence (inflorescence may be branched, however) (example illustration)

stems decumbent to erect
generally with leafy axillary shoots below terminal inflorescence (example illustration)