Description
Taken from the Missouri Weed ID Guide: http://weedid.missouri.edu//weedinfo.cfm?weed_id=246
Broadleaf:
| Weed Description: A taprooted perennial from a basal rosette, developing a single stem that may reach 3 1/3 feet in height. Broadleaf dock is found throughout the eastern United States, the Midwest, and Arizona. |
| Leaves: Lower leaves are petioled, may be reddish-veined, flat with a heart-shaped base and very broad, up to 6 inches wide and 12 inches long. Stem leaves have an ocrea and progressively become smaller up the flowering stalk. Leaves become more reddish-purple with age. All leaves are slightly wavy on edges. |
| Stems: A singe flowering stem that is erect, reddish- brown, and ribbed. |
| Flowers: Arranged in clusters of racemes on the upper portion of the elongating stem, consisting of greenish sepals that become reddish-brown with age. |
| Fruit: An achene, with 1-3 spines on the 3-winged triangular structure that surrounds the achene. |
| Roots: Large, fleshy tap-root, yellowish orange in color. |
Curly (pictured above):
| 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. |
Pest image (all)
Scientific name
Rumex spp.
Pest photo source
Dr. Dallas Peterson, Agronomy, KSU
Weed type
broadleaf
Production period
Preharvest
Weed life cycle
perennial
Crop type