Acetosa sagittata
(Thunb.) L.A.S.Johnson & B.G.Briggs Rambling DockVigorous glabrous perennial climber with stems to 3 m long or more, producing woody, internally yellowish tubers. Leaves triangular to deltoid, 3–10 cm long, 1.5–6 cm wide, apex acute, prominently sagittate at base; petiole usually as long as lamina or longer. Inflorescence a diffuse, flexuose-branched panicle to 30 cm long or more; flowers bisexual or female; perianth segments elliptic, obtuse, c. 1 mm long at anthesis, green or purplish, the 3 inner segments soon enlarging in fruit, becoming c. orbicular with cordate bases, membranous and strongly reticulate-veined, c. 1 cm diam., pale brown or pinkish, outer segments barely enlarging; fruiting pedicel articulate below base. Nut elliptic, pale brown, shining. Flowers mainly Feb.–Apr.
GleP, VVP, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, GGr, EGL, HSF, HNF. Naturalised all States except NT. Native to South Africa. Rather common in Melbourne inner and eastern bayside suburbs as a weed in gardens and coastal or near-coastal shrublands, usually on moist sandy soils. Occasional elsewhere (e.g. Dandenong Ranges, Erica, Lakes Entrance), but either under-collected or likely to spread further along the coast.
Walsh, N.G. (1996). Polygonaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 3, Dicotyledons Winteraceae to Myrtaceae, pp. 272–295. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning