DOCK (.1S. ducce, probably connected with Gael. dughu, burdock). A name applied to those species of the section Lapathum, of the genus Rumex. which are not acid or only slightly so, and of which the flowers are perfect or polyg amous. The other species are generally called sorrel (q.v.). The docks are mostly large, per ennial, herbaceous plants, natives chiefly of tem perate climates. with large. generally lanceolate or ovate leaves, and panicles of small, greenish flowers. They multiply rapidly by seed, have great tap-roots. and are with difficulty eradicated from pastures. The best mode of dealing with them is generally found to be repeated cutting away of the leaves and shoots, by which the plants are killed. :Many of the species prefer watery places. A ntuuber are natives of the British Isles, and several of the European species have been introduced into North America, where also a number of indigenous species are found, and have been troublesome weeds. Useless and even
troublesome as the docks are generally esteemed, the large, astringent roots are yet capable of being beneficially employed in medicine: and those of the greater water-dock (llante.r in particular. for which the Druids entertained a superstitious veneration, are administered as an antiscorbutie. astringent, and tonic. Those of Ramer erispus, the yellow dock, are used in the same manner. The roots contain variable quanti ties of tannin, and the occurrence of this in large quantities in canaigre (Rumen hymenosepalus) (q.v.) has been made use of in tanning tine grades of leather. The young leaves of a number of species are often used as pot-herbs.