Rumex longifolius is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft). It is in flower from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Rumex longifolius is a perennial plant that grows to a height of 60 to 120 cm (24 to 47 in). It has large, broad leaves, the edges of which are crinkled and undulating. The upper surface of the leaves is hairless and the under surface hairy beside the veins. The stems are erect, tough, and unbranched until just below the inflorescence. The junctions of the stems are covered by two fused stipules which form an ochrea, a thin, paper-like sheath - a characteristic of the family Polygonaceae, and fringed above in this species. The stem leaves are alternate and are narrowly ovate–lanceolate and have a rounded or tapered base. The leaf stalks are approximately the same length as the leaf blade. The inflorescence consists of large clusters of racemes which contain small greenish flowers that are bisexual. The perianth-segments are in two whorls of three. Segments in the outer whorl are small and spreading while the inner whorl forms the fruit valves, which are rounded or kidney-shaped and have either entire edges or crinkly ones. Each flower has six stamens, a pistil consisting of three fused carpels and three styles. The fruit is a glossy brown nut with a triangular cross section. This plant blooms from July to September.
This plant might be poisonous
How to get rid of:
Biological
Docks are grazed by cattle, sheep, goats, and deer, but not by horses.
Physical
Repeated cultivation is recommended for control of young (seedling) populations.
Mowing has little effect on established docks, but will prevent seed production. However, frequent cutting encourages taproot growth, branching shoots, and may aid seedling development (from previous year’s seed bank), and so is not recommended. In a pasture heavily infested with docks, the best option may be to plough and reseed with grass, but not immediately. The docks are likely to regenerate both vegetatively and from seed, and a period of fallowing or arable cropping may help to reduce re-establishment.
Chemical
Many chemical controls are available for dock species. However, very few are approved for use in or near water. Repeated treatments are usually needed to control re-growth.
