Curly Dock

Rumex crispus

Weed Description
Taprooted perennial, developing a basal rosette of wavy-margined leaves and an unbranched stem that may reach 5 feet in height. Found throughout the United States primarily as a weed of pastures, hay fields, forages, landscapes, and some agronomic crops.

Seedlings
Stems below the cotyledons may be tinted maroon at the base. Cotyledons are rounded at the apex and narrowed to the base (spatulate-shaped). Cotyledons are without hairs and occur on petioles. Young leaves may have reddish patches on them and form a basal rosette.

Leaves
Lower rosette leaves are petioled, without hairs, alternately arranged on the stem, dark green with wavy margins. Stem leaves are arranged alternately along the stem, have a membranous sheath that encircles the stem (ocrea), and become progressively smaller up the flowering stalk. Leaves become more reddish-purple with age.

Stems
Unbranched, thick, without hairs, ridged, often reddish in color.

Flowers
Occur in clusters on the upper portion of the elongating stem, consisting of greenish sepals that become reddish-brown with age.

Fruit
An achene (2 mm long) that is triangular, glossy, and brown to reddish-brown. A papery 3-valved or 3-winged structure surrounds the achene.

Roots
Large, fleshy tap-root, yellowish orange in color.

Identifying Characteristics
Leaves with markedly wavy-margins. This weed may be confused with Broadleaf Dock (Rumex obtusifolius). However, the much wider and less wavy leaves of broadleaf dock help to distinguish the two species.

Trouble identifying a weed?

For additional assistance identifying weeds, contact Dr. Kevin Braldly, State Extension Weed Scientist (bradleyke@missouri.edu).

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Curly Dock

Rumex crispus

Trouble identifying a weed?