Algae and Plants
47
Rumex hastatus (D. Don)
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Common name: Arrowleaf dock, yellow sock, curled sock.
Distribution: Northern hemisphere;
northern Pakistan, northeast Afghanistan, southwest China.
Habitat: Wetlands.
Description: It is a bushy and richly
branched shrub with many ascending
stems 90–120 cm tall. Stems are woody
at base. Leaves are narrow and arrow
shaped with a pair of narrow spreading basal lobes. Stems have numerous
thin branches with terminal very slender clusters of distant whorls of tiny
greenish pink or pinkish green flowers.
Flowers are very small and hermaphrodite. Tender young leaves and shoots
are eaten raw or cooked (http://www.
flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/
Arrowleaf%20Dock.html).
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition (% FW)
Plant Part Ash Moisture Protein Fats Fiber CHO a
Root
5.25
20.22
13.65
2.54 19.37 39.04
Stem
6.23
26.80
6.05
4.50 19.26 36.19
Leaf
18.58
22.56
14.00
5.84 14.57 24.50
Flower
8.66
20.50
9.50
3.54 18.65 39.24
Fruit
9.73
24.01
13.59
4.57 15.06 33.04
Seed
15.50
23.05
12.01
4.56 16.06 28.88
a Carbohydrate.
Source: Data from Hameed and Dastagir (2009).