Ruby Dock

Other Common Names: Bladder dock, Hops, Native hops, Pink dock, Rosy dock, Wild hops.

Synonyms: ​​Acetosa vesicaria.​ 

Forms a persistent seedbank, allowing seeds to remain viable in the soil for extended periods. Fire generally destroys the above-ground parts of the plant but does not kill seeds in the soil, enabling regeneration after disturbance. Plants typically grow 10 to 60 cm tall, although they may occasionally reach up to 1 m in height.

• Shallow rooted.

Often found along roadsides and in disturbed areas (e.g. in gravel pits and on mine sites) in the semi-arid and arid parts of Australia. It typically grows on sandy alluvial soils and gravelly ironstone soils. However, it is also found in natural grassland and open woodland habitats, along waterways in inland areas and in drier coastal habitats (particularly in northern and north-western Western Australia). 

Similar native species: ​​Native hopbushes (Dodonaea spp.) have similar reddish bladdery fruit but differ by their woody stems and shrubby perennial growth​.

Similar non-native species: Similar to rambling dock (Acetosa sagittata) and clustered dock (Rumex conglomeratus), but ruby dock can be distinguished by its upright habit, hollow stems and slightly fleshy arrowhead shaped leaves with wavy margins. Its flowers, turn bright pink or red and develop into inflated bladdery fruit, unlike the smaller, papery or non-inflated fruit of related species. Rosy dock is an annual, whereas rambling dock and curled dock are perennials with solid stems and rambling dock also produces underground tubers.

​Seeds dispersed by wind and water (light papery fruit is well suited to this dispersal). Also, by human activities, on vehicles and machinery, particularly during mining operations. ​Important part of the diet of wild camels in central Australia and it may also be dispersed by these feral and other animals (e.g. goats).

Arrived in Australia with camels, either as feed or accidentally in saddles and packing (e.g. its soft fruit was used for padding). Camels were imported from the 1880s via Fremantle and other northern coastal ports to service Western Australia. Ruby dock was first recorded near Perth in 1892 and later along camel routes inland. Its bright fruiting flowers have led to deliberate cultivation in dry regions and its large infestations are often mistaken for wildflowers.