Rumex dentatus
Toothed dock
(c) Rachel Stringham, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Rumex dentatus (Toothed dock) is a non-native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by . Large marginal teeth on fruiting structures diagnostic.
Toothed dock is a naturalized annual found in the Great Valley and Peninsular Ranges in wet, disturbed places and cultivated fields at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces small, inconspicuous flowers in open, interrupted whorls with thread-like pedicels. Growing with slender, often bending stems up to 70 centimeters tall that branch above the middle, it has a vertical fusiform taproot. Its lance-oblong to ovate-elliptic leaves measure 3 to 8 centimeters long with entire to slightly wavy margins and obtuse to acute tips. The fruit is dark red-brown, approximately 2 to 2.8 millimeters long with three distinctive lanceolate tubercles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species. Large marginal teeth on fruiting structures diagnostic.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Wet, disturbed places, cultivated fields
Elevation: < 800 m
California counties: Ventura, Riverside, Napa, Butte, San Bernardino, Imperial, San Diego, Yolo, Los Angeles, Colusa, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Merced, Solano, Glenn, Tehama, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Stanislaus
Outside California: Oregon, Alberta, Ontario, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, native to southeastern Europe, Asia, northern Africa
Bloom period
Rumex dentatus blooms May-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Anemopsis: Rumex has dense flower clusters; Anemopsis has a single white cone-like flower head.; vs Amaranthus: Rumex has papery three-winged fruits; Amaranthus has small round seeds with papery covers.; vs Plantago: Rumex has branching flower clusters; Plantago has flowers in dense cylindrical spikes.; vs Eriogonum: Rumex has large broad leaves; Eriogonum typically has small basal leaf rosettes or mats.; vs Limonium: Rumex has green to reddish flower clusters; Limonium has papery purple or pink flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rumex dentatus native to California?
No. Rumex dentatus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Rumex dentatus bloom?
Rumex dentatus blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Rumex dentatus grow?
Rumex dentatus occurs in Ventura, Riverside, Napa, Butte, San Bernardino, Imperial, San Diego, Yolo and other counties, at elevations of < 800 m.
What plant family does Rumex dentatus belong to?
Rumex dentatus is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Rumex.
What habitat does Rumex dentatus grow in?
Rumex dentatus grows in Uncommon. Wet, disturbed places, cultivated fields.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.