Clustered Dock

Rumex conglomeratus often is confused with immature specimens of R. obtusifolius, as well as with other species (e.g., R. sanguineus). Its distribution in North America is insufficiently known, and some literature records may refer to R. obtusifolius.

Rumex conglomeratus and R. sanguineus were placed in subsect. Conglomerati Rechinger f. (K. H. Rechinger 1937).

Rare species in our area, known from Kashmir only.

Plants perennial, normally gla-brous, rarely very indistinctly papillose on veins of leaf blades abaxially, with fusiform, vertical rootstock. Stems erect, branched in distal 3 (sometimes with few flowering stems from rootstock), 30-80(-120) cm. Leaves: ocrea deciduous to partially persistent at maturity; blade oblong-lanceolate, obovate-lanceolate, or lanceolate, normally (5-)10-30 × 2.5-6 cm, base broadly cuneate, rounded, or truncate, rarely subcordate, margins entire, flat to very weakly undulate, apex subacute, occasionally obtuse. Inflorescences terminal, occupying distal 2/ 3 of stem, lax, interrupted, broadly paniculate, branches simple or nearly so, almost all but distalmost whorls with subtending leaves; panicle leafy at least in proximal 2/ 3 of length. Pedicels articulated in proximal 1/ 3 or occasionally near middle, filiform, 1-4(-5) mm, ca. as long as inner tepals or slightly longer, articulation distinctly swollen. Flowers 10-20 in dense remote whorls; inner tepals oblong-lanceolate, oblong, or lingulate, 2-3 × 1-1.6(-2) mm, ca. 2 times as long as wide, base cuneate or truncate, margins entire, apex obtuse; tubercles 3, equal or subequal, largest tubercle almost as wide as inner tepal. Achenes usually dark reddish brown, 1.5-1.8 × 1-1.4 mm. 2n = 20.

Perennial. Stem erect, 40-100 cm high, divided from below the middle in numerous widely arcuate-divaricate branches. Basal leaves rather small, up to 16 x 5 cm, narrowly oblong-ovate, flat, with slightly cordate or truncate base and ± acute apex, petiole about as long as the blade; stem leaves upwards gradually smaller and with shorter petiole. Flower whorls numerous, all clearly separated from each other, all supported by a small lanceolate acute short petioled leaf. Pedicels short, about as long as the valve, articulate near the middle or slightly below. External perianth segments slightly longer than the breadth of the valves. Valves 2.5-3.2 x 1-1.7 mm, lingulate, entire, all grain bearing; grain very prominent, oblong-ellipsoid, covering a large part of the valve. Nut 1.3-1.7 mm long, dark brown, broadest slightly below the middle.

introduced; B.C.; Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Mass., Miss., Mo., N.Y., N.C., Okla., Oreg., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., Wash., W.Va.; Europe; w, sw Asia; n Africa; introduced elsewhere.

Distribution: C. and S. Europe, Mediterranean, SW and C. Asia - widely distributed as an alien.

Flowering early summer-early fall.

Marshes, wet meadows, shores, alluvial woods, ditches, wet waste places; 0-1500m.

Rumex acutus Smith

R. nemolapathum Ehrh., Beitr. 1: 181. 1787. R. glomeratus Schreb., Spicil. Fl. Lips. Index 155 nr. 300. 1771. R. paludosus Withering, Bot. Arr. Brit. Pl. ed. 2: 354. 1796. R. acutus Sm. in Hook. Fl. Brit. 1: 391. 1800.