Rumex crispus L.
curled dock
Perennial herb with stout taproot; stems to c. 1 m tall, ± erect, often somewhat flexuous. Petiole much < lamina, the anterior side flattened with raised margins so as to appear concave, sometimes ciliolate. Lamina of lower lvs 6-30 × 1.5-6.5 cm, narrow-lanceolate, oblong or lingulate, ± membranous, strongly undulate with ± crisped margins, minutely puberulent on midrib towards base below; base attenuate; apex acute. Upper lvs similar but much smaller. Infl. branches many, ± erect, often simple; whorls mostly contiguous, the lower sometimes with a small subtending lf, rarely lvs present towards apex. Fls ⚥ or unisexual, strongly protandrous, dense. Pedicels slender, minutely puberulent. Perianth 1-2.5 mm long; segments of outer whorl ± elliptic, obtuse, not reflexing at fruiting; segments of inner whorl much longer, greatly enlarging at fruiting. Fruiting valves 3-4.5 × 3-5 mm, broad-ovate to orbicular, sometimes wider than long, strongly reticulate with raised veins, entire, sinuate or crenulate; tubercles 1-3, generally broad-ovoid, ± deep red and often 1 much larger and occupying from ?-1/2 length of valve. Nuts 2-2.5 mm long, dark brown, sharply angled.
N.; S.; St.; Ch., C., M.: widespread and often abundant weed in all but montane regions.
Europe, N. Africa, W. Asia 1832
Mostly damp places such as lakesides, river beds, ditches, swamps, moist dune slacks near the coast, and wet pastures, sometimes drier ground in waste places, pastures and other modified habitats.
FL Nov-Apr.
