HPIPM:Curly dock

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Caryophyllanae
Order	Caryophyllales
Family	Polygonaceae
Genus	Rumex

Scientific Name

Rumex crispus

Common Name

curly dock

Curly dock (Rumex crispus)

Compiled by: Jack Stivers, Montana State University, Lake County Extension,

and Marjolein Schat, Montana State University from the following sources:

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=RUCR

http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=221

http://www.boku.ac.at/zoology/download/zaller/Zaller_2004WRE.pdf

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/pnw/pnw398/

http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/webpages/rpio-4zw3nh?open

Identification and Life Cycle

Curly dock (Rumex crispus) is a non-native forb in the buckwheat or smartweed family (Polygonaceae). Curly dock is an herbaceous perennial with tall, erect stems. A stout, somewhat branched, yellow taproot may extend as deep as 4 feet, with side branches up to 3 feet long. Stems are erect and 1 to 4 feet tall. Stems are solitary or occur in small groups from the root crown. Stems are smooth and sometimes ridged. A papery sheath surrounds the stem at each node. Stems turn red-brown at maturity and often persist into winter. Leaves of curly dock are long and relatively narrow, with curly or wavy margins resembling crisped bacon. Curly dock leaves sometimes have a bluish green color. Cotyledons are very narrow, grey-green, with a mealy surface, and first true leaves are mostly round. The base of rosette leaves is rounded to heart-shaped. Stem leaves are alternate, with a short petiole. Leaves decrease in size up the stem, the petioles flatten at the base and wrap around the stem. Flowers are not showy, but are small green three-winged sepals that become brown at maturity. They appear at the end of long, slender stalks, attached in whorls (several per node) along the upper part of the elongating and branched stem. The flowers lack nectar and pollen is spread by wind. Fruits of curly dock consist of three heart-shaped bracts or sepals with smooth edges. One of the sepals encloses a single, triangular, sharp-edged, glossy red-brown seed.

Habitats

Curly dock is commonly found along roadsides and waste areas where it tolerates poor drainage but favors nutrient rich soils.

Impacts

Curly dock is a common but not necessarily serious weed in several crops including pastures, hay crops, small grains, orchards, lawns, and home gardens. Ingestion of foliage or seeds has been responsible for several gastric disturbances and dermatitis in cattle and serious toxicity in poultry.

Biology and Ecology

Curly dock is a variable species that hybridizes with other dock species. Curly dock is a cross-pollinated species that exhibits great variation in morphology and physiological characteristics. Curly dock establishes from seeds only at open, disturbed sites; it does not tolerate competition or tillage. Seeds are released from dormancy at various times of the year, and germinate in response to light and fluctuating temperature. Seedlings that emerge early in the growing season produce flowers and seeds in the first year. Seedlings that emerge in autumn form an overwintering rosette and flower the following year. After about 40 days of growth, a seedling can produce shoots from the root crown. In springtime, shoots regenerate from buds at the upper 2 inches of the taproot. Flowers appear in May, about 9 weeks after shoot emergence, and can continue into October and November. Some plants flower twice a year. A single plant can produce 60,000 seeds, some of which germinate readily, while others can remain viable in the soil for over 80 years. Some plants flower and die in one seasons whereas others live 3 to 5 years.

Biological Control

Curly dock is not readily eaten by domestic livestock. Intensive grazing in curly dock infested pastures serves only to reduce competition to the dock. There are no insects or disease organisms available for use on curly dock in North America.

Mechanical and Cultural Control

Curly dock can be controlled in areas commonly used for perennial crops or pastures by shifting to annual crops that require or accommodate tillage. Seeds of curly dock remain viable in the soil for several years, so a 1-year rotation will provide little control. For sparse infestations, removing the crown about 2 inches below the soil surface is a simple and effective control. Mowing will prevent seed production and reduce top-growth of dock to allow more complete grazing of forage species, but it won't control dock.

Chemical Control

A number of chemical control options are available. For herbicide recommendations for specific grain rotations and weeds in Montana, please see the MSU Herbicide Chooser Tool.

Examples of herbicides that can be used to manage curly dock

Consult herbicide labels for additional rate, application, and safety information. Additional herbicide information can be found at http://www.greenbook.net.

Herbicide Active Ingredient trade name	Mode of Action	Product per Acre	Application Time or Growth Stage
Alfalfa
Glyohosate	Inhibition of EPSP synthase
*Roundup		1 - 2 pints	This product may be applied before, during or after planting but prior to crop emergence. Apply 1 to 2 pints of this product plus 0.5 to 1 pound of 2,4-D, in 3 to 10 gallons of water per acre. Apply when most plants are in the early bud stage.
Grass Grown for Seed
Clopyralid	Action like indole acetic acid (synthetic auxins)
*Stinger		0.25 - 0.67 pints	Apply only to established grasses before the boot stage. Applications in the boot stage and beyond can result in increased injury. Do not apply to bentgrass unless injury can be tolerated.
Fallow
Clopyralid	Action like indole acetic acid (synthetic auxins)
*Stinger		0.25 - 0.67 pints	Stinger can be applied either postharvest, in the spring/summer (during fallow period), or to set-aside acres. Apply to young, emerged weeds under conditions that promote active growth. For best results, wait 14 to 20 days after application before cultivating or fertilizing with shank-type applicators to allow for thorough translocation.
Barley and Wheat
Clopyralid	Action like indole acetic acid (synthetic auxins)
*Curtail		2 0 2.67 pints	Apply Curtail in the spring to actively growing wheat or barley once 4 leaves have unfolded on the main stem and tillering has begun up to the jointing stage (first node of main stem detectable). Make application after maximum emergence of the target weeds but before they exceed 3 inches in height or diameter.

The information herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and that listing of commercial products, necessary to this guide, implies no endorsement by the authors or the Extension Services of Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming or Montana. Criticism of products or equipment not listed is neither implied nor intended. Due to constantly changing labels, laws and regulations, the Extension Services can assume no liability for the suggested use of chemicals contained herein. Pesticides must be applied legally complying with all label directions and precautions on the pesticide container and any supplemental labeling and rules of state and federal pesticide regulatory agencies. State rules and regulations and special pesticide use allowances may vary from state to state: contact your State Department of Agriculture for the rules, regulations and allowances applicable in your state and locality.

References

For more information and images please visit IPM Bugwood. http://www.ipmimages.org/search/action.cfm?q=Rumex%20crispus&Start=1&results=35