Rumex aquaticus is a flowering plant in the knotweed family, Polygonaceae. It is native to temperate Eurasia. It is commonly known as the Scottish dock, and is found in aquatic environments.
Identification Rumex aquaticus can be identified by its upright, reddish stout, large heart-shaped leaves to 45 cm long around the base, and smaller leaves around the stalk. It can grow to about 2 m tall. When flowering, Rumex aquaticus can be identified by its red, pink, and green 3 sepal flowers surrounding the stalk.
It can hybridise with several other species of Rumex, most particularly R. obtusifolius (Rumex × platyphyllus), but also with R. crispus (Rumex × conspersus) and R. sanguineus (Rumex × dumulosus).
Habitat Rumex aquaticus is native to temperate Eurasia, from Britain and France east to Japan and eastern Siberia; in Britain it is very rare, restricted to a small area around the south end of Loch Lomond. It is a waterside plant, needing nutrient rich, wet soil to grow, including lakesides, sides of streams and rivers, or any other environment with access to shallow water.
Distribution Rumex aquaticus is a hermaphrodite (both male and female) and is pollinated by wind. The seeds require a moist environment for germination but cannot germinate if submerged in water.
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