Curly dock (Rumex crispus) is a non-native forb in the buckwheat or smartweed family (Polygonaceae). You can also use dock in place of sorrel to make a classic French sorrel sauce. 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 This is a classic combination with the plant. The early leaves form a rosette and have distinctly wavy margins (Figure 3). It is used mainly for respiratory conditions, specifically those with a tickling cough that is worse when exposed to cold air. The 6-8" long elliptical or lance-shaped leaves of curly dock have entire but wavy margins (not toothed). Gotta say it rocked the house! When cooking, the leaves turn from green to almost brown. I can tell you this is a massive pain in the ass, and the flavor isn’t that great. Docks are in the rumex family, and are related to rhubarb and sorrel and oxalis. The native docks tend to like to live near streams and in open forests, and occasionally you will find curly dock there, too. Curly dock is a tall plant that has broad green leaves that curl along the edges. (Note that burdock is a different plant entirely.) Curly dock seedling (right). 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. For those who need to know precisely and with absolute certainty which plant they're dealing with, use the botanical Latin name. In Western herbalism, the root is often used for treating anemia, due to its high level of iron. Broad-leaved dock, on the other hand, has fatter leaves. [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]. 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. N.p., n.d. 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. Stems are solitary or occur in small groups from the root crown. 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. Figure 2: Curly dock cotyledons are round at the apex and narrow at the base. Where I live it’s actually more common than curly dock, and it tastes similar. littoreus has a coastal distribution, and Rumex crispus ssp. This plant has medical uses in European herbal medicine as well. Curly dock seedlings vary in color, from entirely green to red tinged in cooler months. The plant may also cause intestinal discomfort to some people. So how to go about foraging curly dock? Emergence: Curly dock seeds germinate in cool, moist soil from late spring through early fall as conditions permit. A papery sheath surrounds the stem at each node. Here in NorCal, edible green things grow all year long, and you can take your pick if you are even a half-decent forager. 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. Richard H. Uva, Joseph C. Neal and Joseph M. Ditomaso, Busching, M. K., and F. T. Turpin. Curled dock has slender leaves, usually tapering to a point and with wavy margins. 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. Curly dock is characterized by its distinctive pointed green leaves with curled edges; pale green, drooping flowers; and reddish-brown winged fruit. It is classified as an "injurious weed" under the UK Weeds Act 1959. Curly dock is good forage for humans, though such is not the case for livestock. What to do with them? Rumex crispus has a number of subspecies with distinctive habitat preferences. use the sauce on fish, light meat poultry or eggs. Curly dock may also be called yellow dock, sour dock, or narrowleaf dock, depending on where they are purchased. [14] The dark-brown to black seed pods remain on the stalk until the spring when leaves start growing again. Leaves are alternate to one another along the stem forming a rosette. Exotic, rich, spicy, tangy, “green.” For a less esoteric take, go for butter and Cajun seasoning. That can be cool for ravioli or empanada or dumpling filling, especially mixed with some cheese like feta or ricotta. 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