Clustered Dock

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Rumex hydrolapathum
• clustered dock
• clustered green dock
• sharp dock
• smaller green dock
• green dock
• Dock
• Great Water Dock
• Water Dock

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lapathum hydrolapathum
• Acetosa conglomerata
• Rumex conglomeratus var. pycnocarpos
• Rumex winterlii
• Rumex nemolapathum var. exsanguis
• Rumex campestris
• Rumex conglomeratus var. borreri
• Rumex ferrugineus
• Rumex foliosus
• Rumex exsanguis
• Rumex litoralis
• Rumex lachanus
• Rumex nemorosus
• Rumex parvifolius
• Rumex nevadensis
• Rumex virgatus
• Rumex pusillus
• Rumex tauricus
• Lapathum conglomeratum
• Rumex conglomeratus subsp. nevadensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Caryophyllales and the family Polygonaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Rumex.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Rumex conglomeratus, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the natural landscapes of Denmark. Furthermore, its presence extends to the northern territories of Finland. The species is also documented in the coastal and inland areas of Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range includes the rugged terrain of Ireland and Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rumex conglomeratus is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution and a high degree of adaptability to various moisture-rich environments. This species can be found at elevations ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 3000 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 2000 m AMSL. Its habitat preferences are diverse, encompassing both disturbed terrestrial sites and aquatic ecosystems. It frequently inhabits anthropogenic or transitional areas such as old fields, roadsides, and inhabited places, while also showing a strong affinity for riparian and wetland zones, including shores, lakes, rivers, and swamps.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

inhabited places, old fields, roadsides, shores, swamps

Habitat :

lakes, rivers, swamps

Life history

The life history of Rumex conglomeratus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Structurally, it functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at or near the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter during unfavorable conditions. In terms of its seasonal foliage, the plant exhibits deciduous behavior, shedding its leaves as it undergoes its dormant period. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and a hemicryptophytic growth habit enables the species to establish a stable presence in its habitat, utilizing its protected buds to regenerate annually.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rumex conglomeratus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial plant that grows as an independent organism, meaning it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber, vine, or liana, maintaining an erect shoot orientation. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, with minimum recorded heights of 0.2 m to 1 m, a mean height ranging between 0.725 m and 1.575 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 1.5 m to 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

0.725 m

Plant height mean:

1.575 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rumex conglomeratus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, as the plant does not possess the ability to fix nitrogen. Its leaf morphology plays a significant role in its resource acquisition, featuring lanceolate leaf forms with dimensions that vary considerably; leaf length ranges from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 30 cm, while leaf width fluctuates between 1.3 cm and 5 cm. The average leaf width is recorded at 2.5 cm. In terms of surface area and biomass distribution, the plant exhibits mean leaf sizes ranging from 41.9 cm² to 379.73325 cm², which correlates with its Specific Leaf Area (SLA) values that vary between a mean of 188.1 cm²/g and 220 cm²/g, reflecting its physiological adaptation to light interception and water use efficiency.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

lanceolate

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

41.9 cm²

Leaf size mean:

379.73325 cm²

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

220 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

188.1 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rumex conglomeratus is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that allow for self-fertilization. The flowering period typically spans from June or July through August. Pollination is an abiotic process, specifically utilizing a wind-driven syndrome to facilitate fertilization. The resulting fruit is a dry, indehiscent achene that is black in color. These fruits are relatively small, with a mean length of 0.2 cm (ranging from 0.16 cm to 0.2 cm). The seeds contained within are highly prolific, with counts exceeding 1,000 seeds per fruit. Each individual seed maintains a consistent length of approximately 1.8 mm and a volume of 1.4 mm³. The seed mass is quite fine, with a mean ranging between approximately 0.0013 g and 0.0034 g, and a maximum recorded mass of 0.00387 g. Dispersal of the seeds is achieved through multiple syndromes, including anemochory (wind dispersal), hydrochory (water dispersal), and epizoochory (dispersal via attachment to animals). Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.2 cm

Fruit length min:

0.16 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1.8 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0027 g

Seed mass max:

0.00387 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00129891666666667 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0033981665 g

Seed mass min:

9e-04 g

Seed mass min:

0.0013 g

Seed volume max:

1.4 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Rumex conglomeratus has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Condensed Tannins.

Condensed Tannins

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Conditions

Rumex conglomeratus has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include dysentery, enteritis.

Dysentery

1. Fitoterapia

Enteritis

1. Fitoterapia