Garden Patience

Rumex patientia is a member of the Polygonaceae family and is known by several common names, including Garden Patience, patience dock, herb patience, and monk's rhubarb. It is native to regions such as Newfoundland, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and parts of Europe including Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Italy. The plant is consumed as a leaf vegetable in spring and is used in traditional dishes such as pies and broths in Southern Europe. The species was first described by L. in 1753. A discussion in botanical literature notes that the type specimen for this species may not be original material, as it lacks the relevant Species Plantarum number and appears to be a post-1753 addition to the herbarium.