It is 4 mm long; outer whorl of 3 green sepals and... Leaves. It doesn’t have a showy flower and the leaves can look kind of generic. But it is mainly the plant's root, rather than its leaves, that has been used in folk medicine. [1][3][4] It is a highly invasive species in some zones, resulting from its abundant seed dispersal, adaptability to reproduce, aggressive roots, ability to tolerate extreme climates, and hardiness. Bitter dock — also called broad-leaved dock — has leaves which are fairly “flat” across the surface. Dock, Rumex crispus, appears in the garden in large spreading groups, and is characterised by coarse, battered leaves. It is easy to identify, and the reasons for bothering to identify it include that it is: Plant taxonomy classifies yellow dock as Rumex crispus. Plants may be poisonous to livestock when ingested in quantity. The calyx of the ripe fruit is helpful (and often necessary) to identify the plant. Once you are able to use this feature to identify it as yellow dock, you will never forget this plant. [12], Various parasites and predators of R. obtusifolius include 32 insect species and 12 fungi species. [1], Species of flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae. dock. Native plants have been photographed from the province's Prairie, Cypress Upland, Parkland, and Boreal eco-regions. The root grows large and deep, and it can be harvested for potent herbal medicine anytime. It is a highly invasive species in some zones, resulting from its abundant seed dispersal, adaptability to reproduce, aggressive roots, ability to tolerate extreme climates, and hardiness. [1] Broad-leaved dock is designated an "injurious weed" under the UK Weeds Act 1959. Bitter dock (Rumex obtusifolius) Curly dock — also called curled dock — has leaves with lots of “ruffles” across the leaf and along the edges. Broadleaf Dock. The flowers start out a much less distinctive light-greenish color (they can have a reddish tinge, too). Even the folks over at the United States Food and Drug Administration are willing to admit the value of Psyllium – something they rarely do when referencing either wild or cultivated herbs. [7], In the United Kingdom, the plant is often found growing near stinging nettles and there is a widely held belief that the underside of the dock leaf, squeezed to extract a little juice, can be rubbed on the skin to counteract the itching caused by brushing against a nettle plant. Image courtesy of Matthew Naedel. The seed stalks start out green but quickly turn to … Flowers. This curious plant belongs to the buckwheat family, which is identified by the nodes that punctuate the plants' stems (an even clearer example being those found on Japanese knotweed). Quinlan, S.E., and S. Cuccarese. [1], Leaves of the plant can be used as salad,[1] to prepare a vegetable broth or to be cooked like spinach. Curly dock ( Rumex crispus , also called yellow dock) is one of those plants that is easily overlooked. If your skin has ever brushed up against stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) while you were working in the garden, you know about the burning sensation caused by their spines, followed by an itchy rash. The distinct flower head of the plant that remains after the blooms have dried and turned brown is helpful for the identification of yellow dock. Wild Dock Wild Onions Wild Rice Wild Wheat Wood Ear Mushroom Wood Sorrel Yaupon. For the same reason, while the leaves are edible, it is best to avoid eating them in large quantities. The plant reaches as much as 4 feet tall at maturity. Those of you aware of the challenges involved in dandelion control will understand this problem. The first is the look of the plant’s lower leaves. [1] The leaves of this plant can grow to about 30 cm (12 in) in length and 15 centimetres (5.9 in) wide. Small, greenish white flowers appear on tall spikes. It provides food for at least 6-9 months, and year-round in some climates. It is considered a broadleaf, perennial "weed," "wildflower," or "herb," depending on your perspective. [1], The name, Rumex obtusifolius, was assigned by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century, and has remained unchanged, although there are numerous subspecies. Yellow dock has, in fact, been used medicinally (for a number of ailments) for ages, which is why many prefer to refer to it as an "herb." Exotic species include Curled Dock (R. crispus), Clustered Dock (R. conglomeratus), Fiddle Dock (R. pulcher) and Broad-leaf Dock (R. obtusifolius). R. crispusas the name suggests has wavy, curled leaf edges with wedge-shaped leaves. Leaves can be used as a vegetable; roots and seeds may be used for herbal or medicinal purposes The flowers once mature are used in dried flower arranging. A tea prepared from the root was thought to cure boils. Rumex obtusifolius, commonly known as bitter dock,[1][2] broad-leaved dock, bluntleaf dock, dock leaf or butter dock, is a perennial plant in the family Polygonaceae. A related weed can also grow to be as much as 4 feet tall: bitter, or "broadleaf" dock (Rumex obtusifolius). ---Description--- It is a large and spreading plant, its stout stems 2 to 3 feet high, the leaves 6 to 12 inches long, with rather slender foot-stalks, the margins waved and the end or apex of the leaf rounded. 2004. But it is easy to tell the two apart: True to its name, the broadleaf type has bottom, or "basal" leaves that are very wide (4 inches across, versus 1 inch across for yellow dock plants). Many weeds are obscure plants that are easy to miss, but yellow dock is a weed that stands out. Look, in particular, for the sword-like shape and the curled edges of the foliage. Yellow dock flowers are green and sometimes a touch of red. Cambridge University Press. It is considered a broadleaf, perennial "weed," "wildflower," or "herb," depending on your perspective. [1] It has been an invasive species of the Great Lakes region of North America where it was first sighted in 1840. It's fairly easy to identify, and grows abundantly throughout all of non-Arctic North America. Image courtesy of Matthew Naedel. It is a member of the Polygonaceae (buckwheat or dock) family. [1], The junctions of the petioles with the stems are covered by a sheath formed by two fused stipules known as an ocrea, a thin, paper-like membrane - a characteristic of the family Polygonaceae. This plant is listed by the U.S. federal government or a state. This makes curly dock one of the easier plants for beginners to identify. [citation needed], Rumex obtusifolius is widely distributed throughout the world. Flower spikes have numerous clusters of reddish-brown flowers. Ecological and morphological characteristics of the endoparasitoids of larval, "Home remedies: dock leaves for nettle stings", "List of Invasive species in the Great Lakes Great Lakes United / Union Saint-Laurent Grands Lacs", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rumex_obtusifolius&oldid=988538738, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from September 2019, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 13 November 2020, at 20:03. [1] It is easily recognizable by its very large oval leaves with cordate bases and rounded tips, some of the lower leaves having red stems. [1] It is a plant growing readily on arable land, meadows, waste ground, roadsides, ditches, shorelines and riverbanks, woodland margins, forest clearings, and orchards. The docks and sorrels, genus Rumex, are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae. It is found throughout California up to an elevation of 8200 feet (2500 m). It is in the same genus as another weed commonly found in North America, sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella). Segments in the outer whorl are small and spreading while the inner whorl forms fruit valves, which are widely ovately-triangular. The tap root can be up to 90cm (3ft) in length. ... More Content from Plant Identification Plant Identification. Broad-leaved dock can be differentiated from other genus Rumex plants by its broad, blunt leaves. Another aid in identifying this weed is its height. That is the color of the dried flower-head in fall. Each page contains identification information, which parts are edible and how to prepare them for safe consumption. 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