Rumex venosus
Winged dock, Winged Dock
(c) Shaan Aroeste, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Polygonaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Rumex venosus (Winged dock) is a native California herb in the Polygonaceae family, recognized by . Exceptionally large, wing-like fruiting structures are unmistakable.
Winged dock is a California native perennial found in the Modoc Plateau bioregion in dry, sandy places at elevations of 1,200 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small green to reddish flowers in dense whorled clusters. Growing 15 to 30 centimeters tall with ascending stems and creeping rhizomes, it develops multiple axillary shoots near the base. Its lance-ovate leaves are leathery, 4 to 12 centimeters long with entire margins that are flat to slightly wavy, tapering to an acute tip. The fruit is brown to dark brown, 5 to 7 millimeters long with distinctive wing-like structures.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species. Exceptionally large, wing-like fruiting structures are unmistakable.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, sandy places
Elevation: 1200-1800 m
California counties: Lassen
Outside California: western North America
Bloom period
Rumex venosus blooms Mar-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
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 venosus native to California?
Yes. Rumex venosus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Rumex venosus bloom?
Rumex venosus blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Rumex venosus grow?
Rumex venosus occurs in Lassen, at elevations of 1200-1800 m.
What plant family does Rumex venosus belong to?
Rumex venosus is in the Polygonaceae family, genus Rumex.
Is Rumex venosus rare or endangered?
Rumex venosus carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Rumex violascens — Mexican dock
- Rumex acetosella — Sheep sorrel
- Rumex britannica — Pale dock
- Rumex californicus — California dock
- Rumex conglomeratus — Clustered dock
- Rumex crassus — Willow leaved dock
- Sidotheca caryophylloides — Chickweed oxytheca
- Sidotheca emarginata — White-margined oxytheca
- Sidotheca sp. — Starry puncturebract
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.