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Rumex obtusifolius

Bitter Dock · Broad-leaved Dock · Broadleaf Dock

Family PolygonaceaeGenus Rumex

A tall clump of broad ribbed leaves with red stalks, sending up branched spikes of rust-brown fruits against dark trees.
The whole plantAyotte, Gilles, 1948-CC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Flower
GreenishWikipedia
Native range
Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Wikipedia — Wikipedia contributors; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

Two sources report three treatments between them. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 23, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 22, 2024.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 1095 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 years from start to sowing. Then 14 days to germinate.

100% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Rumex p. 59Public domain
Show the original text
Rumex (Polygonaceae). Germinations for the first six were about the same for seeds DS 3 y as for fresh seeds (seelst Suppi. for data on fresh seeds). R. obtusifolius DS 3 y germ. 70D(none) and 70L(100% in 2nd w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Rumex p. 59. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 29, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 28, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 240 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 8 months from start to sowing. Then 11 days to germinate.

100% germination in 7–11 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Rumex p. 73Public domain
Show the original text
Rumex (Polygonaceae). Some species require light and others do not. The seeds were DS 8 m when received. They were studied when received. They were also studied after DS for 2 y except for R. obtusifolius DS 8 m germ. 70L(100% in 7-11 d) and none in 70D. Seeds DS up to 3 y showed littie change.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Rumex p. 73. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 240 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 8 months from start to sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Rumex p. 73Public domain
Show the original text
Rumex (Polygonaceae). Some species require light and others do not. The seeds were DS 8 m when received. They were studied when received. They were also studied after DS for 2 y except for R. obtusifolius DS 8 m germ. 70L(100% in 7-11 d) and none in 70D. Seeds DS up to 3 y showed littie change.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Rumex p. 73. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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