HEIGHT to 1m
Familiar upright perennial of field margins and disturbed meadows. FLOWERS In loose spikes that are leafy at the base (June–Aug). FRUITS With prominent teeth and 1 tubercle. LEAVES Broadly oval, heart-shaped at the base; up to 25cm long. STATUS Widespread and extremely common throughout.
Clustered Dock
Fruits
Clustered Dock Rumex conglomeratus HEIGHT to 1m
Upright perennial with a zigzag stem and spreading branches. Found in meadows and woodland margins, often on damp soil. FLOWERS In leafy spikes. FRUITS Small, untoothed, with 3 elongated tubercles (June–Aug). LEAVES Oval; basal ones heart-shaped at base and often waisted. STATUS Mostly common but rare in Scotland.
Fruit
Wood Dock
Fruits
Wood Dock Rumex sanguineus HEIGHT to 1m
Upright, straggly and branched perennial of grassy woodland rides and shady meadows. FLOWERS In spikes; leafy only at the base (June–Aug). FRUITS With a single elongated wart. LEAVES Oval; basal ones heart-shaped at base, sometimes red-veined and never waisted. STATUS Widespread and common, mainly absent from Scotland.
Leaf
Fruit
Fiddle Dock
Fruits
Fiddle Dock Rumex pulcher
Upright to spreading perennial with branches spreading at right angles. Favours well-drained soil, often near the coast. FLOWERS On spikes in widely separated whorls (June–Aug). FRUITS Toothed, with 3 tubercles. LEAVES To 10cm, waisted and violin-shaped. STATUS Local, and restricted to S England and S Wales.
Marsh Dock fruit
Golden Dock fruit
Golden Dock
Marsh Dock
Golden Dock Rumex maritimus
Annual or biennial of muddy freshwater margins. Turns golden yellow in fruit. FLOWERS In dense, widely separated whorls (June–Aug). FRUITS With 3 tubercles and teeth longer than valves. LEAVES Lanceolate. STATUS Widespread but local, mainly in the south. Marsh Dock R. palustris is similar but does not turn yellow; fruit teeth shorter than valve.
Springbeauty
Springbeauty Claytonia perfoliata (Portulacaceae)
Annual, introduced from N America; naturalised on dry, sandy soil. FLOWERS White, 5-petalled, 5mm across; in loose spikes (Apr–July). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Oval and stalked at the base; flowering stems bear fused pairs of perfoliate leaves. STATUS Widespread and locally abundant.
Pink Purslane
Pink Purslane Claytonia sibirica (Portulacaceae)
Annual or perennial, introduced from N America. Favours damp woods. FLOWERS Pink with darker veins, 5-petalled, 15–20mm across (Apr–July). FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES Oval, stalked at the base; flowering stems carry opposite pairs of unstalked leaves. STATUS Widely naturalised.
Blinks
Blinks Montia fontana
