**Rumex crispus L. (Polygonaceae)**

**Curly Dock**

**Description**. Monoecious perennials, from stout, erect rootstocks.
Stems 3 to 10 dm tall, erect, simple, glabrous. Leaves alternate, the
stipules modified into prominent sheaths, blades lanceolate to elliptic,
8 to 40 cm long, 1 to 6 cm wide, bases rounded to subcordate, apices
acute to acuminate, margins undulate, the lower leaves petiolate, the
cauline leaves gradually reduced upwards, short-petiolate. Inflorescence
10 to 30 cm long, an open panicle, the branches ascending, glabrous,
bracteate. Flowers unisexual, pedicellate, spreading to pendulous,
perianth parts in two whorls of 3 each, 1.5 to 2 mm long, greenish,
fused near the base, the inner ones 3 to 5 mm long in fruit, usually
entire, each with a dorsal tubercle ca. 1.5 to 2.5 mm long and less than
1/3 the width of the tepal, the tubercles reticulated; staminate flowers
with 6 stamens; pistillate flowers with one superior ovary, the styles
3, the ovary 3-angled, with 1 locule. Fruit a 3-angled achene, 2 to 3 mm
long, brown. In California, flowering from March to July (September).
(Gleason and Cronquist 1991, Hickman 1993,, Kaul 1986, Munz 1959, Welsh
1984).

Related, weedy species include *R. conglomeratus* (green dock) and *R.
pulcher* (fiddle dock). The inner tepals of green dock are entire and
not wing-like, while those of fiddle dock are wing-like and distinctly
toothed. The inner tepals of green dock each have a single wart-like
tubercle, but in fiddle dock only 1 of the inner tepals has a wart-like
tubercle, the other two only weakly developed (Gleason and Cronquist
1991, Hickman 1993, Kaul 1986).

**Geographic** **distribution**. A native of Eurasia, curly dock has
become naturalized throughout North and South America, Australia, New
Zealand, southern Africa and Hawaii (Chapman 1991, Clapham et al. 1982,
Fernald 1950, Gleason and Cronquist 1991, Holm et al. 1977, Kaul 1986,
Munz 1959, Wagner et al. 1990, Webb et al. 1988).

*Rumex conglomeratus* has become naturalized along the Pacific coast of
North America, and in northeastern North America, southern Africa, and
Hawaii (Arnold and de Wet 1993, Fernald 1950, Gleason and Cronquist
1991, Mosyakin and Wagner 1998, Munz 1959). *Rumex pulcher* apparently
has become naturalized along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North
America and Hawaii (Gleason and Cronquist 1991, Munz 1959, Wagner et al.
1990).

*Rumex crispus* was first reported from California (Oakland, Monterey)
by Watson (1880). However, it probably was widely distributed prior to
the late 1800s, because its seeds were found associated with early
Spanish settlements dating back to the late 1700s (Hendry and Bellue
1925, Robbins 1940). Both *R. conglomeratus* and *R. pulcher* were
probably widely established in California prior to the end of the 19th
century (Robbins 1940).

*Rumex crispus* is known from all the California Channel islands except
Santa Barbara, *R. conglomeratus* is reported only from Santa Rosa and
Santa Catalina islands, and *R. pulcher* only from Santa Cruz Island
(Junak et al 1997). All 3 species are widely distributed in most
California counties west of the Sierra Nevada, but *R. crispus* extends
eastward to the deserts (Anonymous 1998).

**Reproductive and vegetative biology**. *R. crispus*, *R.
conglomeratus*, and *R. pulcher* are monoecious. *Rumex crispus* is
self-compatible and wind-pollinated (Allard 1965, Proctor et al. 1996).
Seeds of *R. crispus* remain viable for at least 7 years under field
conditions, and do not show any special dormancy (Cavers and Harper
1964, 1967, Walmsley and Davy 1997a). Under certain conditions their
viability remains high for 50-80 years (Darlington 1931, Toole and Brown
1946). Williams (1971) reported considerable variation in seed size and
germination patterns as a result of interspecific hybridization with
*Rumex obtusifolius* in Britain. Seeds of *R*. *crispus* require light
for germination (Steinbauer and Grigsby 1960) , but variation occurs
with respect to location on the maternal inflorescence and to
interaction between light quality and temperature (Cavers and Harper
1966, 1967). Carmona and Murdoch (1995) showed that chemicals used to
break seed dormancy (e.g. thiourea, potassium nitrate, and azides) had
no effect on *Rumex crispus* seeds under field conditions.

Harper (1977) and Cavers and Harper (1964) reported ecotypic variation
in life history characteristics, with plant longevity of *R. crispus*
ranging from 1 to 2 or more years. Successful establishment occurred
only on open sites or on sites relatively free from interspecific
competition. Maun and Cavers (1969, 1970) reported that reproduction in
*R. crispus* varies with respect to daylength and temperature, and that
the species is capable of flowering under both short- and long-day
conditions. Experimental studies of defoliation during anthesis in *R.
crispus* had no effect on fruit production (Maun and Cavers 1971).
Regeneration of grazed or mowed plants results from growth of meristems
near the apex of vertical, underground rootstocks (Healy 1953, Hudson
1955).

**Ecological distribution**. *Rumex crispus*, *R. conglomeratus*, and
*R. pulcher* are reported from waste places, open, disturbed sites,
abandoned and cultivated fields (Fernald 1950, Gleason and Cronquist
1991, Holm et al. 1977, Kaul 1986, Munz 1959). *Rumex crispus* has been
reported from brackish salt marshes (MacDonald 1988) and coastal prairie
(Heady et al. 1988). *Rumex crispus* has been used to revegetate eroding
beach dunes in Britain (Walmsley and Davy 1997a, 1997b, 1997c).

**Weed status.** Curly dock is considered a noxious weed in agricultural
or horticultural practice, at least at a global level (Holm et al.
1977), but it is not considered a noxious weed by the State Dept. of
Food and Agriculture (Anonymous 1996). Both *R. crispus* and *R.
conglomeratus* are listed for the United States in Lorenzi and Jeffery
(1987).

**Microbial pathogens**. *Rumex conglomeratus* has been reported as a
host of alfalfa mosaic virus (McKirdy and Jones 1997). Several fungal
pathogens have been reported from *Rumex* species, including
*Myrothecium roridum* (on *R. crispus*)*, Phomopsis emecis* (on *R.
pulcher*), *Phomopsis longicolla* (on *R. crispus*), *Uromyces rumicis*
(on *R. crispus*)*, and Cercospora.* (Hatcher 1996, Morris and Crous
1994, Murakami and Shirata 1998, Roy et al. 1997, Shivas et al. 1994).
Black et al. (1996) reported that *Rumex crispus* was resistant to
soybean canker disease (*Diaporthe phaseolorum*).

**Insect pathogens**. *Rumex crispus* is known to be a host of weevils
(*Aphion*) and chrysomelid beetles (*Gastrophysa*) (Freese 1995, Hatcher
1996). Interactions between *Gastrophysa* and the rust fungus *Uromyces*
have been studied in *Rumex crispus* (Hatcher et al. 1994a, 1994b,
1994c,1995a, 1995b). In general, damage by beetles, in the form of
reduced biomass, is reduced by fungal infection, which significantly
decreases protein content of plant tissues. In contrast, plants infested
by beetles were less prone to infection by *Uromyces*, which also showed
reduced reproductive success. Beetles or fungus alone caused more damage
than when both were present.

**Herbicide control**. No literature was found that specifically
addressed herbicide control of *Rumex* *crispus* or related species.
Lorenzi and Jeffery (1987), however, recommended mechanical removal or
spot treatment with 2,4-D plus dicamba for low density infestations and
sulfometuron or tebuthiuron for large infested areas.

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