Water Dock - Rumex hydrolapathum

Description

Stout tall much branched plant to 2 metres. Leaves large, rigid broad lanceolate tapered at both ends, lateral veins at right angles to the midrib. Inflorescence dense, flowers in much branched panicles.

Similar Species

other Docks - but it is usually much larger

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)

Large plant at water's edge.  Valves triangular, 3 elongated tubercles

Recording advice

The fruits have a central part, triangular in cross-section, with three membraneous valves surrounding a small, hard 'tubercle'.  The shape and arrangement of valves and tubercles is diagnostic, and close-up photos of fruits and leaves/general habit is needed.

Habitat

Canal and river banks.

When to see it

July to September.

Life History

Perennial

UK Status

Fairly frequent in Britain particularly in the southern half.

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 64 of the 617 tetrads.

n the current Checklist (Jeeves, 2011) it is listed as Native, occasional

Further Information

http://www.kenadams.org.uk/esb/Docks.htm

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Water Dock, Great Water Dock
Species group:
Wildflowers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Caryophyllales
Family:
Polygonaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
83
First record:
24/04/2007 (Dave Wood)
Last record:
18/10/2023 (Nicholls, David)

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% of records within its species group

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