Broad-leaved Dock - Rumex obtusifolius

Description

Medium to tall erect plant to 1 metre. The leaves large and oblong, the lower heart shaped at the base wavy-edged. The flowers in spreading branches, leafy below. Fruit valves triangular, toothed often only one valve swollen.

Similar Species

other docks

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

one well developed smooth tubercle, valves with long lateral teeth

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

Waste and disturbed ground, poor quality pastures.

When to see it

June to October

Life History

Perennial

UK Status

Very common throughout Britain and a scheduled injurious weed.

VC55 Status

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 605 of the 617 tetrads.

In the current Checklist (Jeeves, 2011) it is listed as Native, Frequent

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
Broad-leaved Dock
Species group:
Wildflowers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Caryophyllales
Family:
Polygonaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
427
First record:
01/07/1998 (John Mousley)
Last record:
12/04/2024 (Gray, Stephen)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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