[doug hutch]

hiya all
            in our area [cumbria] theres a plant that grows mostly on waste ground
            this plant grows to a hight 2 to 3 feet and is yellow when in flower
            inside the roots of this plant you can find a grub which we call the docking grub
            and is greatly valued as trout bait
            does anyone know the proper name of the plant and also the insect involved
            the grubs are  about 25-30mm long and 4to5mm thick creamy white with a copper
            coloured head it also has nippers on its head
                                                                                   cheers

[DD.]

Sounds like it could be ragwort.

This link speak of the grub of the its flea beetle attacking the roots, but I doubt they'd be the size you describe.

http://www.t-c-m-rd.co.uk/invasive-weeds/ragwort/

[Roughlee Handled]

I also would not cultivate it either as you could be reported to your council and they have the power to root and dispose of the plants and charge you for the pleasure.  Something I remember from my HND in countryside management course.

[madcat]

Chafer grubs?  This site might be interesting to help you identify them anyway.
bbc garden pests

[savbo]

could the plant be bargeman's cabbage/excaped rape? thinking of the name docking, suggesting a dock (flowers not yellow) or other broad leaved plant?

m

[8doubles]

the plant could also be goldenrod , it likes waste ground. Its on the site DD gave.


Ps their ragwort photo looks more like a daisy, i thought ragwort flower was all yellow.

[DavidT]

I`d agree with Chafer grub, nasty critters. Keep feeding `em to the fish.

[DD.]

the plant could also be goldenrod , it likes waste ground. Its on the site DD gave.


Ps their ragwort photo looks more like a daisy, i thought ragwort flower was all yellow.

Also quite possible.

If you look further down that site, it repeats the photo along with more recongisable ones & says it's ragwort in its plae-petaled form.

[WirralWally]

Hopefully I can shed a little light on this subject even though I don't have a definitive answer.

The plant that you refer to is probably the Prairie Dock, which is a member of the Aster family.
This was originally a native of North America.
The grubs (often of beetles) that feed off the tap root of the plant were discovered by anglers to be excellent trout,chub and roach bait.
The anglers called the grubs Dock-Grubs, after the plant on which they found them.

I hope that I've given you enough information to start a more detailed search.

[tode]

Do they look like  these ?

[doug hutch]

hi
   thanks to all replies it looks like madcats got it right but still not posotive
   [cant seem to remember grub having legs ] so think i ll dig one up
   the plant is definetly a ragwort going by info of other anglers
     so thanks again

[8doubles]

Probably not in the same league as a fat chafer grub but i used to get lots of brown trout on a trotted woodlouse.