trough invader

[mark smyth]

GM, the troughs are new, made and planted in 2009. I used bought soil and grit with a friends leaf mould to make the planting mix. All plants were bought in previous years but not this one. It has grown too big for the trough and has to come out but I'll let it stay until it hopefully flowers next year

The plant has survived another frost without damage. I'll pot a runner just in case

[mark smyth]

Davey the leaves are thick.

One last photo to show a large leaf on my hand

[daveyp1970]

I'm not sure Mark just a guess we should run a book on it

[ranunculus]

Swertia species?

[Lesley Cox]

Mark, if you're going to lift it out I'd do it now. Judging from the growth and the thickness of the roots I'd suggest that by the time it flowers, lifting it may involve lifting the whole contents of the trough, very likely in a solid block

[mark smyth]

Lesley if I cut it out I'll never know what it might be. Next year if and when it flowers I'll spray it

[Great Moravian]

Venation is pinnate in Rumex, at least in species known to me. Upper leaves are opposite in Swertia but basal alternate.
In Swertia perennis the leaves are differently shaped. Other species are unknown to me.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Swertia_perennis_1-T48.jpg
Venation is different
http://luirig.altervista.org/cpm/albums/bot-018/swertia-perennis15751.jpg

[Great Moravian]

friends leaf mould

It might be the source. Ask him first for determination.
If the plant is unknown to him, search and scour
together his garden and conservatories.

[wooden shoe]

The venation made me think of a vegetable called 'witte winterpostelein' in Dutch, Claytonia perfoliata.
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestand:Witte_winterpostelein_Claytonia_perfoliata.jpg
From the picture you can see it's not this plant, but it might help to put others on track.

[mark smyth]

I see the similarity but that plant has almost square leaves

[Lesley Cox]

Lesley if I cut it out I'll never know what it might be. Next year if and when it flowers I'll spray it

But you could lift it out and pot it.

[mark smyth]

yeah but there are snowdrops and other bulbs in the same trough. I might cut their heads off below ground

[Lesley Cox]

Oh well.....

[Great Moravian]

Further possibilities are
http://luirig.altervista.org/schedeit/pz/ranunculus_ophioglossifolius.htm
http://luirig.altervista.org/schedeit/pz/ranunculus_reptans.htm
http://luirig.altervista.org/cpm/thumbnails2.php?search=Ranunculus+revelierei
in which the venation is not clearly depicted however.

[mark smyth]

Thanks for doing some home work on the identity of my plant. It does have leaves like those Ranunculus