The succulent cotyledons (seed leaves) are three times longer than they are wide, have a somewhat rounded tip, and a stalk about as long or longer than the leaf blade. Curly dock Rumex crispus L.. Family: Polygonaceae (Smartweed family) Life cycle: Perennial, reproducing by seed Native status: Introduced Habitat: Pastures, roadsides, low maintenance turf, waste areas General description: Basal rosette of elongated leaves (up to 12 in long) with wavy margins.Leaves are a dull green. Besides curly dock, broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) is the main species that’s eaten. sour dock yellow dock This plant and the related entity italicized and indented above can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Emerging leaf margins are rolled underneath the blade. Curly Dock Rumex crispus Knotweed family (Polygonaceae) Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 1–3' tall and little branched, except where the flowers occur. Broadleaf dock rosette (left). Identification difficulty level: novice Curly dock, Latin name: Rumex crispus, is an excellent wild plant to know. As with other docks, it is often considered a weed of arable and disturbed ground, although it may be left alone on grazing land as extra herbage. They suggest chopping the plant a couple inches below ground, or any cultivation practice that will chop and bury the plant’s taproot. This plant is also known as curled dock, narrow dock and curly leaf dock. Curly dock grows throughout the US and southern Canada. Curly dock leaves are lance shaped; those of red sorrel leaves are arrow shaped. How to Harvest and Use Curly Dock. A flowering stalk bolts from this rosette during the late spring. Curly dock may also be called yellow dock, sour dock, or narrowleaf dock, depending on where they are purchased. This taprooted perennial begins germinating in late spring, continuing into fall if conditions permit. Rumex triangulivalvis – White dock, willow dock or narrow-leafed dock is identified by it’s long, flat, narrow leaves that vaguely resemble willow leaves in shape (only much larger). Leaves are alternate to one another along the stem. This wild edible has a patter that makes identification a breeze. As a member of the buckwheat family, the plant has a characteristic membranous sheath at the leaf base and usually swollen stem joints (nodes). Stems are erect and 1 to 4 feet tall. This makes curly dock one of the easier plants for beginners to identify. Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources It is found throughout California up to an elevation of 8200 feet (2500 m). Curly dock inhabits agricultural land and other disturbed areas. Perennial plants emerge in mid-spring from taproots, producing a robust rosette. Plants may be poisonous to livestock when ingested in quantity. Subscribe (RSS) Stems are often unbranched below the flower head. Book published by Cornell University, Ithaca NY. Cornell University’s Turfgrass and Landscape Weed ID app. The green leaves may be tinged with reddish purple. Curly dock is also known as yellow dock, narrowleaf dock, sour dock, yaller dock, curled dock, Bitter Dock, Bloodwort, Coffee-weed, Garden-patience, Narrowdock, Out-sting and Winter Dock. The go-to for weed ID in the Northeast; look for a new edition sometime in 2019. Curly dock stands erect and grows 2 to 5 feet (0.6 to 1.5 m) tall. Contact Webmaster, © 2016 Regents of the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Curly dock, a perennial broadleaf plant, usually grows in wet areas and is frequently associated with overwatering or standing water in low areas. Habitat. Found throughout the United States primarily as a weed of pastures, hay fields, forages, landscapes, and some agronomic crops. This dock has large, broad heart-shaped leaves, unlike the long, narrow leaves of curly dock. Flowering stem has a few leaves and reaches heights of 3 ft. Family Polygonaceae Scientific Name Rumex crispus ← → Other Common Names: narrowleaf dock. Curly dock (also known as yellow dock, sour dock, and butter dock, as well as other names) is one of the first wild greens ready to harvest in spring. Mowing will prevent seed production and reduce top growth. Weeds of the Northeast. Leaves grow mostly at the base of the plant and are lance-shaped with wavy or curly margins. Established plants emerge from the taproot in midspring, producing a robust rosette. Photo by New York’s Integrated Pest Management program. Stems turn red-brown at maturity and often p… Young leaves are in a basal rosette, smooth, egg-shaped, with red spots on the upper surface. For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. Common names are tricky for that very reason; they change from place to place. The flowering stem is loosely branched and green, non-showy flowers cluster along its upper portion in a whorl. Oder leaves have slightly wavy margins. Curly dock (Rumex crispus), also known as sour dock, yellow dock, narrowleaf dock, or curled dock, is a perennial weed native to Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa.Curly dock was introduced into the U.S., possibly arriving as a seed contaminant in the early 1600’s when the British brought crops and cattle to New England 1. Broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) is a long lived perennial with a basal rosette of long-stalked, smooth ovate-oblong leaves, stems 80cm-1m (32in-3¼ft) high and the distinctive seedheads on spikes that persist into winter.The tap root can be up to 90cm (3ft) in length. Curly dock grows in a wide variety of habitats, including disturbed soil, waste areas, roadsides, fields/meadows, shorelines, and forest edges. Homepage; Broadleaf; Grasslike; Other; curly dock. Curly dock … Curly dock inhabits agricultural land and other disturbed areas. Weed Identification. Staff-only pages This plant is instantly recognizable, and one of the ones that seem to "Spring up everywhere" once you know what it looks like! Leaf blades are 6 to 8 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide. Younger plants tend to have foliage with less curly margins. See our Home page, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. It provides food for at least 6-9 months, and year-round in some climates. Published: April 13, 2015. If you catch dock too late, it will send up a flower stalk that can grow to 3 feet high. sour dock. Yellow Dock Plant Identification . Home Blog PLant encyclopedia Subscription What the press says about us Seeds germinate from late spring through early fall producing seedlings. Curly dock has wings of the fruit which are smooth-edged — in contrast to its curly-edged leaves. This perennial plant is not usually a problem in cultivated row crops. . Initially, it consists of a rosette of basal leaves about 1' across. Nondiscrimination Statement, Accessibility Stems are smooth and sometimes ridged. Curly dock is an herbaceous perennial with tall, erect stems. Learning how to identify broad leaf dock is important for successful foraging. Curled dock is a very common plant found in gardens, along roadside verges and hedgerows, on waste ground, and by water. Flower parts that adhere to the fruit of curly dock can be toothed or have tubercles. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. Curly dock (Rumex crispus) is a member of the diverse Polygonaceae family, which encompasses 1,200 species, including trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs, such as buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum). Leaves can grow to 50 centimetres in size. Similar Species Dock, Broadleaf Rumex obtusifolius Herbicidal Control Options Preemergence: Isoxaben Post Emergence: 2,4-D, Asulam, Atrazine, Chlorsulfuron, Clopyralid, Dicamba, Fluroxypyr, MCPA, Mecoprop-p, Sulfentrazone, Triclopyr Please note: one or more of these active ingredients may exist in combination-type brand name products. The aerial parts are a food source and the roots have strong medicinal values. Fruits are covered with a papery, three-winged membrane with veins. For those who need to know precisely and with absolute certainty which plant they're dealing with, use the botanical Latin name. Seeds and fleshy taproot. New basal rosettes of leaves form in early winter. Curly dock (Rumex crispus L.) Life Cycle: Simple perennial. Curly dock (Rumex crispus) is a perennial weed with a thick taproot. Flowers are in clusters (15 -60 cm long) on narrowly spaced branches on the upper portions of the elongating stem.