Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Curly Dock (Rumex crispus)

Rumex crispus is known by the common names Curly Dock, , Yellow Dock, Sour Dock, or Narrow Dock. It is widespread in Georgia and would be considered by most to be a weed. The flowers are tiny – about 1/4 inch across and go unnoticed unless you look closely. The seeds are fascinating.

A young plant.

The flower spike is just developing.

A flowering plant, from a distance. This one is simple; they can have multiple flowering/fruiting spikes.

A flower, up close.

A flower, up close.

Young fruit, just developing.

Developed fruit.

A dried plant.

The seed pods, up close.

Rumex crispus (Curly Dock) is native to Europe and western Asia. It grows throughout the United States and Canada.
Click on an image to view a larger image

Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Rumex crispus (Curly Dock)
- University of North Carolina Herbarium: Rumex crispus

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Curly Dock (Rumex crispus)
- Natural and Naturalized Plants of the Carolinas and Georgia: Rumex crispus
- Missouri Plants: Rumex crispus
- Wikipedia: Rumex crispus

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower
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2 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 9, 2010 at 3:42 PM

    This is good for skeeter bites. You chew up a leaf or a young stem and just slap it right on the bite. Or you can mangle the plant and rub it on the bite, if you're persnickety about putting weeds in your mouth, but it's harder to get the juice out.

    Aren't you a Walton County Master Gardener? Did I see you in class? Email me! catrenn@gmail.com

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  2. JSKJuly 9, 2010 at 5:28 PM

    Thanks for this information - I didn't know this and it might move the plant from the weed column into the useful plant column.
    Does this only work with Rumex crispus or with other Rumex sp.?
    No, I'm not a Walton County Master Gardener - just an Oz transplant intrigued by the variety of wildflowers i was observing and teaching myself about them. Hoping that sharing them with others might save them some time if they want to identify and appreciate them.

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