Curly dock – Rumex crispus
Print
EmailRumex crispus L.
Polygonaceae (Smartweed family)
MI Status
Non-native
Life cycle
Erect, taprooted simple perennial.
Leaves
Alternate, long and narrow with round to pointed tips and wavy margins. Leaves are shaped like bacon strips.
Stems
Forms a basal rosette that bolts prior to flowering, unbranched, reaching 3 to 4 feet in height. A membranous sheath (ocrea) surrounds the stem at the base of
each petiole.
Flowers and fruit
Flowers are small, usually greenish and found in clusters on the upper stems, becoming reddish brown at maturity. The seed is enclosed in a single-seeded, shiny, reddish brown, three-sided fruit.
Reproduction
Seeds and fleshy taproot.
Similar weeds
Broadleaf dock (R. obtusifolius L.)
Differs by having much wider, broader leaves and usually heart-shaped leaf bases.
Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
2022 CANR Alumni Association scholarship recipients announced
Published on June 7, 2022
-
MSU AgBioResearch, MSU Extension announce 2025 field days
Published on May 8, 2025
-
Project GREEEN-funded research packs a punch against problematic weeds
Published on February 21, 2024
-
MSU AgBioResearch, MSU Extension to host field days around the state this summer
Published on May 28, 2024
-
Noelle is learning more about sustainable farming in her M.S. degree
Published on February 7, 2022
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.