Rumex crispus
Family:
Polygonaceae
Life Cycle:
Annual
Plant status:
Weed
Habit:
Curly dock is an herbaceous perennial with tall, erect stems growing up to 4 feet in height. Initially, plants form a prostrate rosette of foliage. Curly dock foliage is long and narrow, up to 12 inches long and 2 inches wide. Mature rosettes are generally up to 18 inches in diameter. Later in the season, or in second year of growth, flowering stalks emerge.
Flowers:
Flowers occur in panicles or axillary clusters. Flowers are apetalous, meaning without petals, and are composed entirely of greenish sepals. At maturity, these sepals turn brown and flower stalks remain into the winter months.
Favorable environments:
Field
Favorable environment notes:
Curly dock is commonly found in fields, meadows and pasture lands. It favors wet or poorly drained areas of undisturbed soils such as ditches and roadsides.
Dissemination:
Curly dock reproduces mainly by seed. Tiny triangular seeds are reddish-brown and are enclosed in one of three smooth edged bracts or calyx. The smooth edge calyx is a distinguishing factor between Curly dock and Broadleaf dock.
Management link: