Pest Profile

Dock (Broadleaf and Curly)
Rumex spp.

Pest Description

Taken from the Missouri Weed ID Guidehttp://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 photo source

Dr. Dallas Peterson, Agronomy, KSU