Scientific name: Rumex brownii Campd.

Common name: Swamp dock

Family: Polygonaceae

Origin:

Native of Australia.

Habit:

Perennial herb first forming a rosette of leaves, later upright stems with branched inflorescences grows to 1 m tall. Develops a thick, contorted taproot.

Habitat:

A native plant commonly found growing in forests and along creeks, a weed of disturbed sites and waste areas. Prefers swampy ground.

General description:

Stems and leaves

Stems are erect, sparsely branched reddish green and hairless. Leaves have petioles (leaf stalks) 1-15 cm long. Leaf blades are oval or oblong 5-30 cm × 1-11 cm, with a pointed tip and a leaf base which is winged or abruptly cut off. Margins can be wavy, curled or crumpled

Flowers and fruit

Inflorescences which are produced at the tips of stems, may be branched or unbranched. Small flowers 3 mm are clustered along the stems with 5-16 flowers per cluster.

Distinguishing characteristics:

Perennial herb with stalked leaves forming a rosette and later upright flowering stems. Inflorescences are branched with whorls of rusty-brown winged fruits spaced at intervals up the stems. Fruits have 4-6 hooks along bract margins. In Rumex crispus (curled dock) a similar species flowers/fruit are densely clustered and fruits are without hooks.

Noxious status:

Not noxious.

Sources:

Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 1. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Anonymous. (2000). Noxious Weed List for Australian States and Territories. Prepared by the National Weeds Strategy Executive Committee.

Auld, B.A. and Medd, R.W. (1996). Weeds: An Illustrated Botanical Guide to Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Sydney.