Veiny Dock, Winged Dock: Rumex venosus

Veiny dock is also known as veined dock or winged dock. It is a smooth-surfaced perennial with erect, often freely branched stems arising 15-50 cm high from a spreading, woody rootstock. The stems are often reddish, with numerous thick, leathery leaves (no basal leaves). The leathery leaf blades are oblong-elliiptic to broadly lanceolate or oblong-oblanceolate and measure from 6-12 cm long, tapering to short petioles. The stipules are white, very conspicuous, and measure from 1-3 cm in length.

The inflorescence is a loose, leafy panicle of small flowers which are each 4-5 mm long. The pedicels below each flower are 15-30 mm long and are noticeably jointed near the middle of their length. The outer perianth segments are erect to spreading with the inner segments becoming greatly enlarged and ultimately measuring 20-25 mm long. These larger inner perianth segments or valves are often a deep rose to reddish in color (See photo below.) and semi-orbicular in shape, with a heart-shaped base. The valves become membranous wtih strongly netted venation. The achenes are smooth and measure from 5-6 mm long.

Veiny dock is found on sandy or gravelly soils, including those found along riverbanks, in deserts, and occasionally in grasslands and the sagebrush desert.

Veiny dock may be found entirely east of the Cascade Mts. from southern British Columbia south to northeastern California, and east to Saskatchewan, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Veiny dock as seen on sand dunes atop the White Bluffs (north), Hanford Reach National Monument...........April 28, 2014. Western wallflower (Erysimum occidentale) accompanies the veiny dock in the photo at right.

Veiny dock on a rock and-sand beach along the John Day River just upstream of the big whirlpool. Hard Stone Trail, Cottonwood Canyon State Park and adjacent BLM lands.....April 24, 2022.

The photo at left shows the large valves and leaves of veiny dock as seen about 2 miles west of the mouth of the Deschutes River in the Columbia River Gorge........May 21, 2000. The photo at right shows veiny dock on a rock and-sand beach along the John Day River just upstream of the big whirlpool. Hard Stone Trail, Cottonwood Canyon State Park and adjacent BLM lands.....April 22, 2023.