Rumex vesicarius
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Acetosa vesicaria - Flickr - Kevin Thiele (1).jpg
|image2 = Rumex vesicarius Montana Bermeja.JPG
|image2_caption = Cultivar
|taxon = Rumex vesicarius
|authority = L.
|synonyms = *Acetosa vesicaria (L.) Á.Löve
- Lapathum vesicarium (L.) Moench
- Rumex americanus Campd.
- Rumex bolosii Stübing, Peris & Romo
- Rumex clementii Domin
}}
Rumex vesicarius, also known as ruby dock,{{Cite web|url=https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/2443|title=Rumex vesicarius: FloraBase—the Western Australian Flora|last=Western Australian Herbarium|first=Biodiversity and Conservation Science|date=|website=florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-01-06}} rosy dock or bladder dock, is a species of perennial{{check|date=March 2024}} flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae. According to Plants of the World Online, Rumex vesicarius is native to tropical and temperate Asia, Africa, and Western Australia. However, the Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria asserts that within Australia it is naturalised in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.{{Cite web|url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/search?product=APNI&tree.id=&name=Rumex+vesicarius+L.&inc._scientific=&inc.scientific=on&inc._cultivar=&inc._other=&max=100&display=apni&search=true|title=Rumex vesicarius|last=|first=|date=|website=biodiversity.org.au|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-01-06}}
Description
It is an erect, succulent annual{{check|date=March 2024}} herb which grows to up about 60 cm high, and has triangular to ovate leaves which are truncate or cordate at the base and about 5–10 cm long,{{Cite web|url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/41c1f289-d353-4e97-94dc-ac27aecea850|title=Acetosa vesicaria: Flora of Victoria|last=|first=|date=|website=vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-01-06}} with entire margins.{{Cite web|url=http://eflora.nt.gov.au/factsheet?id=4936|title=Acetosa vesicaria (NT Flora)|last=|first=|date=|website=eflora.nt.gov.au|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-01-06}} The stipules form an almost complete sheath around the stem which disintegrates. The flowers are green with a red tinge, and have six perianth segments with the inner three becoming enlarged and papery when fruiting. The hard, red and reticulately veined fruit persist, giving rise to spectacular displays.
Etymology
The specific epithet, vesicarius, derives from the Latin word, vesica, meaning "bladder", to give an adjective which describes the fruit of the plant as "inflated", "bladder-like".{{Cite web|url=http://www.plantillustrations.org/epithet.php?id_epithet=200057%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class=|title=vesicarius,-a,-um|website=www.plantillustrations.org|access-date=2020-01-06}}
Popular culture
The plant appears in the children's story book The Story of Rosy Dock by Jeannie Baker. The collage picture book uses the arrival and naturalisation of the rosy dock to draw on themes of colonisation and sustainability for children.{{Cite web |title=The Story Of Rosy Dock – Jeannie Baker |url=https://www.jeanniebaker.com/book/the-story-of-rosy-dock/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=www.jeanniebaker.com}}
References
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
- {{Wikispecies-inline}}
- [https://www.gbif.org/species/2888986 Rumex vesicarius Occurrence data] from GBIF
- {{PFAF|Rumex vesicarius}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q6415588}}