Curled Dock

Taxobox
color = lightgreen
name = "Rumex crispus"
status =

secure


image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Caryophyllales
familia = Polygonaceae
genus = "Rumex"
species = "R. crispus"
binomial = "Rumex crispus"
binomial_authority = L.

Curled Dock ("Rumex crispus"), also known as Curly Dock or Yellow Dock, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae, native to Europe and western Asia.

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. [Richard H. Uva, Joseph C. Neal and Joseph M. Ditomaso, "Weeds of The Northeast", (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1997), Pp. 286-287.] The root-structure is a large, a yellow, forking taproot.

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

Distribution

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. It is designated an "injurious weed" under the UK Weeds Act 1959 [http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/wildlife/weeds/index.htm] . It is often seen in disturbed soils at the edges of roadsides, railway beds, and car parks.

Uses and toxicity

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. [Lee Allen Peterson, "Edible Wild Plants", (New York City: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977), p. 154.] Once the plant matures it becomes too bitter to consume. Dock leaves are an excellent source of both vitamine A and protein, and are rich in iron and potassium. 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.

The roots have also been used medicinally as an astringent, tonic, and laxative. Compounds contained in the plants roots have been clinically verified to bind with heavy metals such as lead and arsenic and expel them from the body by stimulating biliary function in the liver. The plant is considered a highly effective blood cleanser and is used by herbalists to assist the body in eliminating heavy metals and to treat other hepatic disorders. [ [http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/d/docks-15.html "A Modern Herbal": Docks] ] [Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1]

References

Edible and Medicinal plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1