Curly Dock

[Rumex crispus L.]

Polygonaceae (Smartweed Family)

▲ seedlings

▲ early season growth

▲ mid and  ▼ late season growth

▲ ▼ flowering plants

▲ ▼ plant in seed stage

DOCKS:

      simple perennial, rosette-forming, large tap-rooted weeds

      usually found in pastures, range, abandoned fields; some in lawns

      usually controlled by tillage or by post-emergent herbicides

      inflorescence is a tall stem with terminal spikes of green flowers which mature to brownish seeds

      curly dock:  (pp. 498-499, Weeds of the Great Plains, pp. 286-287 in Weeds of the Northeast)

o   has rosette of wavy/crinkly edged leaves that are 1-3” wide and 6-18” long

o   leaves or petioles/stem bases often have reddish tinge

o   produces upright, branched flowering stems 18-48” tall in spring with greenish flowers that produce flat, winged seeds that turn reddish brown when mature