128 WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
The stem is 1-2 feet high, branched when large, and the leaves are shortly stalked, narrowly 
lance-shaped or strap-shaped, slightly wavy. The whole plant is smooth and of a yellowish-green 
colour. 
Rare. In marshes and wet places, chiefly by the sea ; distributed throughout England, 
reported from a few places in Scotland, and found in County Dublin. July — August. 
Biennial. 
5. Yellow Marsh Dock. (Rumex limosus. Thuill.) — A very similar species, only 
more luxuriant and differing in the small flower-clusters (whorls) being distant from one another 
instead of being massed together, the enlarged perianth-lobes about ^ inch long, with 2 or 3 
shorter teeth, in the nut being much larger, and the whole plant more luxuriant, 2-3 feet high, and 
always branched. {Rumex palustris. Smith.) 
Rare. In marshes and wet places, widely distributed in England, and reported from Scotland. 
July — August. Perennial. 
6. Fiddle Dock. (Rumex pul'cher. Linn.) — Flowers perfect, in distant clusters 
(whorls) up the stem forming a leafy branched cluster (panicle) ; the inner perianth-lobes 
oblong-triangular with the lower margins deeply toothed, covered with a network of veins, and 
an oblong prickly wart on the back, one lobe having a larger, more prominent wart than the other 
two. [As described in the genus Dock (Rumex).] Stem 6 inches to 2 feet, usually only 1 foot 
long, at first erect and then arching and straggling ; the lower leaves fiddle-shaped, or oblong and 
heart-shaped (cordate) at the base, and the upper leaves lance-shaped and pointed. The whole 
plant is dull green and usually without hairs. 
Not common, local. In dry waste places; chiefly in the south of England, but found in mid- 
England and North Wales. July — October. Biennial or perennial. 
7. Broad-leaved Dock. (Rumex obtusifolius. Linn.)— Flowers perfect, olive green, 
often tinged with red, in distant clusters (whorls), the upper ones leafless, forming a branched, 
almost leafless narrow cluster (panicle) ; the inner perianth-lobes triangular, blunt, usually with 
several strong teeth at the base, and covered with a network of veins, and one or all three 
with a red or brown wart on the back. [As described in the genus Dock (Rumex).] The stem 
is stout, 2-3 feet high, and branched ; the lower leaves are 8 or 9 inches long, broadly oblong 
or egg-shaped oblong, heart-shaped (cordate) at the base, blunt, scalloped, and wavy, and the 
upper leaves are oblong or lance-shaped. The whole plant is deep green, and the stem and vein 
and in the autumn the whole plant, is often tinged with bright red. 
Very common. By waysides, and in fields, pastures, and waste places; throughout England, 
Scotland, and Ireland. July — September. Perennial. 
8. Curled Dock. (Rumex cris'pus. Linn.) — A very similar species to the last but with 
a denser flower-cluster, only leafy below, often tinged with bright red ; with the enlarged perianth- 
lobes inch long, heart-shaped (cordate) at the base, not toothed, and usually with only one 
having an oval wart on the back, the other two having the midrib usually merely thickened but 
occasionally with a narrower wart too ; and with all the leaves lance-shaped, long, and narrow, and 
the margins very wavy or crisped, the lowest 6-8 inches long. 
Very common. By roadsides, in waste places, pastures, fields, &c. ; throughout England, Scotland, 
and Wales. June — October. Perennial. 
9. Long-leaved Water Dock. (Rumex domes'ticus. Hartm.)— A very similar species 
to the last, the Curled Dock (Rumex crispus), and easily mistaken for luxuriant plants of that 
species, but with larger flowers never tinged with red, in even denser clusters ; the enlarged 
perianth-lobes inch long, rounder and more heart-shaped (cordate), and without any warts, 
