Mike Robinson’s find of six Golden Dock (Rumex maritimus) plants in late July, at the former Thamesview golf course to the west of Crossness, has now been confirmed by Dock expert Geoffrey Kitchener of the Kent Botanical Recording Group.
Very infrequent in Bexley, and on the Kent Rare Plant Register, an identification check was made because of the propensity of Docks to hybridise. It is an annual species of seasonally wet, often fairly bare places, the sort of habitat that tends not to persist for very long. The previous record was of a couple of plants spotted by Chris Rose at Marlborough Park in mud by the Shuttle a few years ago, where it has not been seen since.
Thamesview golf course. Golden Dock habitat picture. (Mike Robinson)
Golden Dock at Thamesview golf course (Mike Robinson)
Another close-up of a Golden Dock seed head (Mike Robinson)
