Rumex crispus

Rumex crispus

Curled dock
Binomial:	Rumex crispus
Family:	Polygonaceae
Type:	Perennial
Light requirements:	Sun to medium shade
Water requirements:	Drought tolerant
Soil requirements:	Any but wet soils
Pest issues:	Some
Disease issues:	Some
Weediness:	Weedy
Seed Dispersal:	On clothing or fur, water, wind
Toxicity and edibility:	Edible roots

Curled Dock (Rumex crispus), also known as Curley Dock or Yellow Dock, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae, native to Europe and western Asia, but invasive in other parts of the world.

Description

The mature plant is a reddish brown colour, and produces a stalk that grows to about 1 m high. It has smooth leaves shooting off from a large basal rosette, with distinctive waved or curled edges. On the stalk flowers and seeds are produced in clusters on branched stems, with the largest cluster being found at the apex. The seeds are shiny, brown and encased in the calyx of the flower that produced them. This casing enables the seeds to float on water and get caught in wool and animal fur, and this helps the seeds to spread to new locations. The root-structure is a large, a yellow, forking taproot.

Ecology

Curled Dock is a widespread naturalised species throughout the temperate world, which has become a serious invasive species in many areas, including throughout North America, southern South America, New Zealand and parts of Australia. It spreads through the seeds contaminating crop seeds, and sticking to clothing.

Curled Dock grows in roadsides, all types of fields, and low-maintenance crops. It prefers rich, moist and heavy soils.

Uses

It can be used as a wild leaf vegetable; the young leaves should be boiled in several changes of water, or can be added directly to salads. Once the plant matures it becomes too bitter to consume. Dock leaves are an excellent source of both vitamine A and protein.

The roots have also been used medicinally as an astringent, tonic, and laxative.

Control

• Mowing: Generally not found as a lawn weed, but can survive occaiasional mowing
• Cultivation: Cultivation is only effective on seedlings, as the plants develop thick taproots
• Pulling: Pulling is a good technique, though care should be taken to get the deep roots
• Barriers: This plant can push up light barriers
• Disposal: Safe to compost, but hot piles only if seeds are present.