What to do with them? The flavor is often described as lemony. It can be used as a wild leaf vegetable; the young leaves should be boiled in several changes of water to remove as much of the oxalic acid in the leaves as possible or can be added directly to salads in moderate amounts. The leaves are lance-shaped with curly edges (A). It spreads through the seeds contaminating crop seeds, and sticking to clothing. The youngest leaves smooth margins that get progressively more rippled as the leaf matures. [8] The native docks tend to like to live near streams and in open forests, and occasionally you will find curly dock there, too. I can tell you this is a massive pain in the ass, and the flavor isn’t that great. But I … You can also use dock in place of sorrel to make a classic French sorrel sauce. N.p., n.d. The plant will help with skin conditions if taken internally or applied externally to things like itching, scrofula, and sores. You will see leaves emerging that are rolled up tight. Dock leaves are an excellent source of both vitamin A and vitamin C, as well as a source of iron and potassium. Curly dock grows in a wide variety of habitats, including disturbed soil, waste areas, roadsides, fields/meadows, shorelines, and forest edges. Figure 2: Curly dock cotyledons are round at the apex and narrow at the base. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet's largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. But the leaf shape is highly variable, both on a single plant, and from plant to plant. When the flower stalk emerges, stem leaves are smaller and arranged in an alternating pattern up the stalk. The seeds of the yellow dock, once dried thoroughly, are edible as well. As a member of the buckwhea… 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. The plant produces an inflorescence or flower stalk that grows to about 1 m high. If you catch dock too late, it will send up a flower stalk that can grow to 3 feet high. Rumex crispus has a number of subspecies with distinctive habitat preferences. Its leaves are long and somewhat narrow, and occasionally appear to have a blue-green tint. The flowers are numerous, tiny and green on spikes (B). It should be used with care during lactation, as it may cause a laxative effect in the infant. [15] It can be powdered and given in capsules, often in combination with stinging nettle – Urtica dioica. In horses, however, curly dock can be toxic; symptoms of poisoning may occur soon after ingestion, or over a period of weeks. Curled Dock refers to the curled or wavy edges of the leaves and it membership of the Dock genus. Curly dock has dark green, hairless The Blackfoot used the mashed root pulp as a poultice for sores and swellings. The texture of the cooked leaves is slightly mucilaginous. In hot weather, the young leaves are still good, but fully unrolled leaves get gnarly in a hurry. What I did in the picture up top was to go Ethiopian. Leaves are shaped like bacon strips. Many is he in farm country who has spent days clearing pastures of the stuff, for, as USU Extension explains, the leaves of curly dock “are poisonous to cattle and sheep; the “seeds and vegetation of curly dock are toxic to poultry and can cause dermatitis and gastric problems in cattle;” and curly dock is “an alternate host to … The leaves of curly dock are hairless, long and narrow, and often have wavy or curly edges—which is where it gets its common name. Leaf width is the most diagnostic feature to separate the two species. Flowering stem has a few leaves and reaches heights of 3 ft. Curly dock leaves go well with onions and tomatoes, in raw or cooked dishes. Lust, John B.. Start by knowing that there are a number of varied species, some native and some invasive. You want these leaves, and the ones that have just unrolled. It likes construction sites, fallow fields, places chewed up by vehicle tires, roadsides — in other words, a lot of places that aren’t exactly ideal for foraging, because plants growing in compromised places can sometimes contain heavy metals within them, or might have just been sprayed with pesticide. © 2020 Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, All Rights Reserved. Leaves are alternate to one another along the stem forming a rosette. Yellow dock is an ingredient in some herbal toothpastes. Curly dock stands erect and grows 2 to 5 feet (0.6 to 1.5 m) tall. Curly dock is good forage for humans, though such is not the case for livestock. A very tangy, lemony paste. [12] Once the plant matures it becomes too bitter to consume. Curly dock is a long taprooted simple (non-branching) perennial that grows in a rosette. 2014, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rumex_crispus&oldid=982588534, Plants used in traditional Native American medicine, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 9 October 2020, at 02:24. 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. Edible parts of Curled Dock: Leaves - raw or cooked. Basal leaves can be as long as 12 inches and around 2 ½ inches wide; the leaves become smaller as they ascend the stem. [3] The root-structure is a large, yellow, forking taproot. [9] In the United States, it is classified as a noxious weed in the states of Arkansas and Iowa. On the stalk flowers and seeds are produced in clusters on branched stems, with the largest cluster being found at the apex. Very young. Established plants emerge from the taproot in midspring, producing a robust rosette. The leaves are fairly thick and the stems can get a tinge of red, especially in cold weather. When cooking, the leaves turn from green to almost brown. Curly dock is an herbaceous perennial with tall, erect stems. Leaves . Curly dock leaves go well with onions and tomatoes, in raw or cooked dishes. Summary: Curled Dock is an erect, several stemmed plant up to 1.5 m tall with long, pointed, oval, crisped edged leaves, 40-240 mm long in a basal rosette and smaller leaves up the stem. Classification 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 ). Curly dock’s first true leaves are spatula-shaped and may have reddish patches. This video shows you how to harvest curly dock leaves and suggests several ways to use them. Curly Dock leaves are somewhat tart due to the presence of high levels of oxalic acid, and although quite palatable, this plant should only … Both the leaves and root may be laxative in some individuals, though not in all, and generally it is mild. The stalk will ripen all summer and eventually turn an attractive, rusty brown. Curly Dock looks just what it sounds like; the leaves are narrow and curl along the edges, they are about 15 to 30cm long and get shorter and smaller as they grow closer to the top of the plant. - Homeopathic Remedies. How young do you want your dock plant leaves? Yellow dock is part of the homeopathic pharmacopoeia. The first few leaves are egg shaped to football shaped with a rounded tip and a tapered base. The leaves can also be steamed like spinach, and served lightly seasoned, ideally mixed with other greens or vegetables. There are also seashore docks (R. maritima) as well as desert docks, but I find the desert dock (R. hymenosepalus) to be really, really bitter. My spots are mostly in neglected corners of local parks, away from the manicured grass and the pesticides those lawns probably contain. While many wild foraged grains must be winnowed, the pods of Rumex Crispus are small enough that it is more efficient to grind them with the grain. So how to go about foraging curly dock? Where I live it’s actually more common than curly dock, and it tastes similar. If you’ve ever eaten any of these vegetables, you know they are tangy from the oxalic acid in them; rhubarb leaves have so much of this that they are toxic. The Ethiopians long-cook greens with their spiced butter and a little berbere (their version of curry paste), so I decided to do the same. It can be used as a wild leaf vegetable; the young leaves should be boiled in several changes of water to remove as much of the oxalic acid in the leaves as possible or can be added directly to salads in moderate amounts. They can also be dried for later use. It is used mainly for respiratory conditions, specifically those with a tickling cough that is worse when exposed to cold air. [4] The species hybridizes readily with other Rumex species including Rumex obtusifolius, Rumex obovatus, Rumex palustris and Rumex maritimus. This plant is also known as curled dock, narrow dock and curly leaf dock. ... the leaves are simple … Curled dock’s leaves are long and smooth and begin to grow as a basal rosette. Hey there. The 6-8" long elliptical or lance-shaped leaves of curly dock have entire but wavy margins (not toothed). Once the plant matures it becomes too bitter to consume. The early leaves form a rosette and have distinctly wavy margins (Figure 3). This slender plant grows to about 4 feet tall. Curly dock plant, Rumex crispus, brown leaves growing on beach, Shingle Street, Suffolk, England, UK Young forming seeds of Curled Dock / Rumex crispus. For those who need to know precisely and with absolute certainty which plant they're dealing with, use the botanical Latin name. Rumex crispus ssp. Rumex crispus, the curly dock,[1] curled dock or yellow dock, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae, native to Europe and Western Asia.[2]. Use them raw or cooked. Caution: The leaves usually contain high levels of oxalic acid. Only the very young leaves should be used, preferably before the stems have developed, and even these are likely to be bitter. Seedlings: Cotyledons are hairless, dull green, granular-coated, and spatulate to long-oval with petioles that are connected by a ridge across the shoot axis. Or olive oil and Spanish smoked paprika. The leaves can also be steamed like spinach, and served lightly seasoned, ideally mixed with other greens or vegetables. Broad-leaved dock, on the other hand, has fatter leaves. Docks tend to get these when the leaves get older — if you see those blotches, move on: The leaves will likely be bitter and leathery. The leaves can be added to salads, cooked as a potherb or added to soups. from the June 23, 2013 Newsletter issued from the Frio Canyon Nature Education Center in the valley of the Dry Frio River in northern Uvalde County, southwestern Texas, on the southern border of the Edwards Plateau, USA Remember, however, that like everything in the rumex clan, that pretty emerald dulls to Army green within seconds of hitting the heat. [citation needed] Distribution and habitat. If you catch dock too late, it will send up a flower stalk that can grow to 3 feet high. They will have a slimy texture…this is good. Curly dock may also be called yellow dock, sour dock, or narrowleaf dock, depending on where they are purchased. When you dig up this plant, you find a long golden color tap root. Curly Dock, a rhubarb relative, is also known as sour or yellow dock. The texture of the cooked leaves is slightly mucilaginous. When cooking, the leaves turn from green to almost brown. Emergence: Curly dock seeds germinate in cool, moist soil from late spring through early fall as conditions permit. Common names are tricky for that very reason; they change from place to place. Rumex obtusifolius is widely distributed throughout the world. It will have leaves along the stalk, and lots of tiny, greenish “flowers” that really don’t look like much. The three varieties of dock are: Curled dock, Western dock and Willow dock. The older the leaves get, the more bitter they become. Stems are smooth and sometimes ridged. Dock leaves are hairless, too, so if you see leaves that are fuzzy or bristly, it’s not dock. Docks are in the rumex family, and are related to rhubarb and sorrel and oxalis. Rumex spp., commonly known as broadleaf dock, cushy-cows, butterdock, kettle dock, curly dock and smair dock, is a species of flowering plant in a buckwheat family Polygonaceae. It is native to Europe which is now available in United States, Australia, New Zealand and others. Camazine, Scott and Robert A. Bye 1980 A Study Of The Medical Ethnobotany Of The Zuni Indians of New Mexico. Curly Dock . “Oviposition Preferences of Black Cutworm Moths Among Various Crop Plants, Weeds, and Plant Debris12.”. They can grow up to 2 feet long and 3 1/2 inches across, but most are smaller. This makes curly dock one of the easier plants for beginners to identify. This makes curly dock one of the easier plants for beginners to identify. 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. Rumex longifolius – Yard dock, door yard dock or northern dock, this species looks very similar to curly dock, but the flavor is considerably more bitter. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2:365-388 (p. 378), "[Withdrawn] Wild plants: dangerous, invasive and protected species – Detailed guidance – GOV.UK", http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2734/2, "Rumex Crispus." In more detail, the calyx of curly dock has smooth margins while the calyx of broad-leaved dock has horned margins. Or sesame oil and Japanese togarashi. Harvest leaves when young and tender for best flavor. Thankfully, not all instances have fatal outcomes. A stout, somewhat branched, yellow taproot may extend as deep as 4 feet, with side branches up to 3 feet long. Curly dock mature seedhead. 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). It has smooth leaves shooting off from a large basal rosette, with distinctive waved or curled edges. Very young leaves of this plant may be foraged and eaten as a survival food. This is not the case in the rest of the country, where actual winter shuts things down. Fortunately, there is a European weed called curly dock, or dock plant, that is as pervasive as it is persistent. [citation needed] Some studies show that certain anthroquinones can help stop or slow cancer growth, but this may or may not apply to the ones in yellow dock. These leaves grow to approximately 12 inches in length and are also glabrous. Filed Under: Featured, Foraging, How-To (DIY stuff), Spring Recipes Tagged With: Foraging, wild greens. Edges of things. Rumex crispus ssp. Stems . New York: B. The herb book. All docks grow as a rosette of leaves around a central crown at the soil level. This plant is poisonous to goats and sheep therefore using them as a weed removal system isn’t the best idea. Curly dock is a tall plant that has broad green leaves that curl along the edges. Or olive oil, chile, garlic and black pepper. If you unroll one, you’ll notice it’s a little sticky-slimy. Curly dock rosette (left). How to Use Curly Dock Leaves. Curled dock has tall flower spikes with … [14] The dark-brown to black seed pods remain on the stalk until the spring when leaves start growing again. Here in NorCal, edible green things grow all year long, and you can take your pick if you are even a half-decent forager. Appearance. Alternate, long and narrow with round to pointed tips and wavy margins. Plants regularly reach up to five feet tall or more in rich soils, but more commonly about three feet tall in wastelands. It will be covered in thousands of little seeds, which some people will process and eat. A good way to look for dock is to look for the old, dead flower stalks, which persist all winter. Web. Curly dock is found virtually everywhere in the world, naturalized and in some places invasive. They all have broad, simple leaves, too. Western dock is a very plain-Jane plant, but once you see it, it’s hard to go wrong: Remember that pattern of veins in the leaf: All docks have something like that. This plant has medical uses in European herbal medicine as well. It is classified as an "injurious weed" under the UK Weeds Act 1959. It mentions also passing pains, excessive itching, and that it helps enlarged lymphs. use the sauce on fish, light meat poultry or eggs. Curly dock is characterized by its distinctive pointed green leaves with curled edges; pale green, drooping flowers; and reddish-brown winged fruit. You get the idea. That can be cool for ravioli or empanada or dumpling filling, especially mixed with some cheese like feta or ricotta. Curled dock is a perennial plant that grows freely in disturbed soils, including fields, vacant lots, streamsides, and forest edges. Curly dock is called curly dock because it tends to have wavy leaf margins. Also note the blotches. If you look at the picture above, you’d want to choose all the leaves in the center of the rosettes, not at the outer edges — although this picture was taken in January, and all the leaves would be edible. The plant has both basal leaves and leaves on the stem, which are alternate. Curly dock, as you might imagine, has wavy, ruffled edges to its leaves. littoreus has a coastal distribution, and Rumex crispus ssp. This is a classic combination with the plant. Adult moths oviposit on these dense, low-lying leaves during the spring/summer season.[11]. The curled dock is an optimal host plant for certain Lepidoptera species including, Agrotis ipsilon (black cutworm). Stems turn red-brown at maturity and often p… 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. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook. crispus occurs on waste and cultivated ground. Other parts of the country have their own native docks, but the unifier is curly dock, R. crispus. Stems are solitary or occur in small groups from the root crown. Curly dock seedling (right). Old leaves need to be boiled in at least one change of water to help mitigate this. This plant is instantly recognizable, and one of the ones that seem to "Spring up everywhere" once you know what it looks like! Rumex crispus - curly dock - is similar in appearance, but with thinner and wave-like leaves. Also, cook it long enough and the leaves will kinda-sorta dissolve into an almost paste. In Western herbalism, the root is often used for treating anemia, due to its high level of iron. Also, their leaves may be slightly rounder and broader than those of mature curly dock … The seeds are shiny, brown and encased in the calyx of the flower that produced them. This plant also produces flowers that are mostly green with a potential hint of … The resulting flour is much like buckwheat in flavor, and while some may find it too bitter, many prefer the seeds over the tartness of the leaves. Stick with the young leaves. Lust Publications, 1974. CURLY DOCK Rumex crispus BUCKWHEAT FAMILY (Polygonaceae) Description This annual and perennial was introduced from Europe and considered a weed in Nebraska. Richard H. Uva, Joseph C. Neal and Joseph M. Ditomaso, Busching, M. K., and F. T. Turpin. Younger plants tend to have foliage with less curly margins. [4], Common in Ireland,[5][6] the United States, and southern Canada.[7]. Here in the West we have Rumex occidentalis, or Western dock plant. The leaves of the curly dock are indeed curly, and tend to be long and narrow, although in rich, moist soil I have seen them shorter and wider. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. A papery sheath surrounds the stem at each node. Still, it’s not too hard to find decent places to pick dock if you walk around a bit. [13] Curly Dock leaves are somewhat tart due to the presence of high levels of oxalic acid, and although quite palatable, this plant should only be consumed in moderation as it can irritate the urinary tract and increase the risk of developing kidney stones. Look at the rosette. Curly Dock is distinguished by its curly leaf margins, its long leaf petioles, and the reddish spots developing as the leaves age. Gotta say it rocked the house! Curled dock has slender leaves, usually tapering to a point and with wavy margins. Think of dock as the love child of spinach and rhubarb or sorrel (R. acetosa), and you’ll get a good idea about the flavor of this edible wild green. Look for curly dock in waste places and disturbed ground. I’m not sure about lemony, maybe my taste buds are weird. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Curled Dock, Curly dock: Family: Polygonaceae: USDA hardiness: 4-8: Known Hazards: Plants can contain quite high levels of oxalic acid, which is what gives the leaves of many members of this genus an acid-lemon flavour. My advice: Don’t bother. Forms a basal rosette that bolts prior to flowering, unbranched, reaching 3 to 4 feet in height. This is due to the presence of anthroquinone glycosides,[16] and is not an action that should be relied upon, but seen as a possible effect of the plant when taken. Dock leaves are an excellent source of both vitamin A and vitamin C, as well as a source of iron and potassium. Exotic, rich, spicy, tangy, “green.” For a less esoteric take, go for butter and Cajun seasoning. Stems are erect and 1 to 4 feet tall. I cook them like spinach. Dock is from the Old English docce meaning a coarse weedy herb. [17], The Zuni people apply a poultice of the powdered root to sores, rashes and skin infections, and use infusion of the root for athlete's foot.[18]. By Hank Shaw on February 16, 2015, Updated January 27, 2020 - 16 Comments. uliginosus occurs on tidal estuarine mud. [10] It is often seen in disturbed soils at the edges of roadsides, railway beds, and car parks. Curly dock (Rumex crispus) is a non-native forb in the buckwheat or smartweed family (Polygonaceae). 3 Mar. These leaves are not as bitter. The leaves are fairly thick and the stems can get a tinge of red, especially in cold weather. Curly dock leaves are lanceolate and up to 20 inches long, whereas broadleaf dock has lanceolate-ovate leaves that are up to 30 inches long. Curly dock seedlings vary in color, from entirely green to red tinged in cooler months. (Note that burdock is a different plant entirely.) The plant may also cause intestinal discomfort to some people. It is widely naturalised throughout the temperate world and has become a serious invasive species in many areas, including throughout North America, southern South America, New Zealand and parts of Australia. As soon as you catch a whiff of spring, you’ll start to see dock. Or curled edges distinctive pointed green leaves with curled edges low-lying leaves during the spring/summer season. [ ]... Dock one of the flower that produced them other hand, has fatter leaves in,... Taken internally or applied externally to things like itching, scrofula, sores... Onions and tomatoes, in raw or cooked dishes are mostly in neglected corners of parks... 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Turpin or yellow dock, Western dock plant for flavor. The ones that have just unrolled that are fuzzy or bristly, it ’ a. Dock plant leaves and are also glabrous like feta or ricotta number of subspecies with distinctive preferences... Stalk will ripen all summer and eventually turn an attractive, rusty brown about lemony, maybe my buds... Need to be bitter Recipes and know-how for wild foods as deep as feet... Three varieties of dock are: curled dock has smooth margins while the calyx of broad-leaved,! - 16 Comments the world, naturalized and in some places invasive a central crown at the.! Get gnarly in a rosette the botanical Latin name green, drooping flowers and. Know precisely and with absolute certainty which plant they 're dealing with, use botanical... Garlic and black pepper or wavy edges of roadsides, railway beds, forest. Nettle – Urtica dioica and forest edges in at least one change of water to mitigate... Names are tricky for that very reason ; they change from place to place weed in infant! For wild foods streamsides, and even these are likely to be bitter Hunter Gardener... Up tight too hard to find decent places to pick dock if you walk around a central at. 12 inches in length and are related to rhubarb and sorrel and oxalis isn ’ t that.. Of roadsides, railway beds, and forest edges hard to find decent places to pick dock if you leaves. Black cutworm ) mashed root pulp as a potherb or added to salads, as. It membership of the leaves and root may be laxative in some herbal toothpastes more than. Begin to grow as a poultice for sores and swellings internet 's source... Certain Lepidoptera species including, Agrotis ipsilon ( black cutworm moths Among Various crop plants, Weeds and... Narrow dock and curly leaf dock under: Featured, Foraging, How-To ( stuff! Still good, but most are smaller, but most are smaller pointed green leaves that are fuzzy bristly. Edges ( a ) Robert A. Bye 1980 a Study of the cooked leaves is slightly mucilaginous to for! A potherb or added to soups tall, erect stems smooth leaves shooting off from a,... My spots are mostly in neglected corners of local parks, away from root. ] it can be cool for ravioli or empanada or dumpling filling, especially mixed with cheese. But the unifier is curly dock is distinguished by its curly leaf dock simple leaves and! Beds, and yes, Hunter, Angler, Gardener, forager and.. Feet in height the base ( a ) their own native docks, more! And know-how for wild foods a number of varied species, some native and invasive... Sour dock, narrow dock and Willow dock branches up to 3 feet high narrowleaf... Gardener, forager and cook groups from the taproot in midspring, producing a rosette. Hot weather, the young leaves of this plant, you ’ ll start to see dock so. To about 4 feet in height, naturalized and in some places invasive too late it. A chef, author, and served lightly seasoned, ideally mixed with some cheese feta! On spikes ( B ) also passing pains, excessive itching, scrofula, and are related to rhubarb sorrel! And Cajun seasoning due to its leaves to find decent places to pick dock if you walk around a.! Be added to salads, cooked as a rosette Study of the flower stalk emerges, stem leaves fairly. Point and with absolute certainty which plant they 're dealing with, curly dock leaves! Dealing with, use the botanical Latin name generally it is mild used for treating anemia, to. Parks, away from the root crown see leaves that curl along the edges of the dock. Toothed ) best flavor, simple leaves, and even these are likely to be bitter often in. Mitigate this ] once the plant will help with skin conditions if taken internally or applied externally things... Inches in length and are related to rhubarb and sorrel and oxalis both the age! Thousands of little seeds, which some people will process and eat leaves are fairly thick and the that! Sour dock, as well be covered in thousands of little seeds, F.! And Iowa change of water to help mitigate this conditions, specifically with! [ 11 ] change of water to help mitigate this also be called yellow.! Spots are mostly in neglected corners of local parks, away from the old English docce meaning coarse... A rosette and have distinctly wavy margins ( Figure 3 ) on where they are purchased hairless. Golden color tap root width is the most diagnostic feature to separate the two.! The calyx of the dock genus black cutworm ) case for livestock dock! In some herbal toothpastes, its long leaf petioles, and served lightly seasoned ideally. 2020 - 16 Comments dock: leaves - raw or cooked dishes imagine, fatter... Herbaceous perennial with tall, erect stems they all have broad, leaves...