Gotta say it rocked the house! hymenosepalus (wild rhubarb) is common in the desert in the American Southwest.It is larger and more succulent than many other docks. The plant has valuable cleansing properties and … I’ve read several comments that curly dock roots may be eaten as a substitute for potatoes, but I’m pretty sure that they don’t taste the same. Wednesday, April 1, 2009. This plant also produces flowers that are mostly green with a potential hint of … Perennial plants emerge in mid-spring from taproots, producing a robust rosette. While docks may be happiest and tastiest when they grow with plenty of moisture, the taproot indicates they are drought-tolerant plants. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. There are also seashore docks (R. maritima) as well as desert docks, but I find the desert dock (R. hymenosepalus) to be really, really bitter. Curly Dock, Yellow Dock. The leaves are fairly thick and the stems can get a tinge of red, especially in cold weather. If you unroll one, you’ll notice it’s a little sticky-slimy. If eating spinach is against physician's orders or for those who are prone to kidney stones, don't eat dock. The midribs of large dock leaves can be tough and fibrous, while the leaf blade remains tender. My spots are mostly in neglected corners of local parks, away from the manicured grass and the pesticides those lawns probably contain. Curly Dock looks just what it sounds like; the leaves are narrow and curl along the edges, they are about 15 to 30cm long and get shorter and smaller as they grow closer to the top of the plant. In hot weather, the young leaves are still good, but fully unrolled leaves get gnarly in a hurry. Identifying spring curly dock: an edible, weedy wild plant This is one of the most healthy, beautiful curly dock plants I've ever seen: Identification difficulty level: novice Curly dock, Latin name: Rumex crispus, is an excellent wild plant to know. Initially, it consists of a rosette of basal leaves about 1' across. The same compound is found in spinach. Today's featured plant is Curly Dock, Rumex crispus. Remove the ribs from ones this age before eating the leaves raw. Here in NorCal, edible green things grow all year long, and you can take your pick if you are even a half-decent forager. The sour flavor of dock comes from oxalic acid, which, when consumed in large quantities, may cause kidney stones. Now, for those who are generally healthy and don't eat large quantities of dock on a regular basis, it should be fine. If using raw leaves, avoid excessive mucilage by removing the leaf stem (petiole) and using only the actual leaves in salads. (Note that burdock is a different plant entirely.) Both curly and broad-leaved dock are edible at several stages. Ardahan and Kars have very harsh winter and temperature drups -35C in winter. It likes construction sites, fallow fields, places chewed up by vehicle tires, roadsides — in other words, a lot of places that aren’t exactly ideal for foraging, because plants growing in compromised places can sometimes contain heavy metals within them, or might have just been sprayed with pesticide. There's something about the texture and flavor of the cooked dock that works wonderfully with dairy. What I did in the picture up top was to go Ethiopian. There are many edible docks in the Rumex genus, some native and some introduced. Patience dock (R. patientia) was once cultivated as a vegetable in both the USA and Europe and is still grown as such by a small number of gardeners. “Yup, there they are,” you’ll quickly note each time your eyes scan the scenery. It is a member of the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae. Description. Filed Under: Featured, Foraging, How-To (DIY stuff), Spring Recipes Tagged With: Foraging, wild greens. Docks tend to get these when the leaves get older — if you see those blotches, move on: The leaves will likely be bitter and leathery. You want these leaves, and the ones that have just unrolled. What Are Dandelions? Probably need boiling now. The whole plant is edible, as are other docks and sorrels (species in the genus Rumex; not, though, plants that share only a common name such as burdock (Arctium) and wood sorrel Oxalis).The catch is, not all docks taste good. Curly dock’s basal rosette leaves are “elongated lanceolate or nearly linear,” and “rounded or tapered at the base” (Thayer, 2010), ranging in shape from broad to less so (Kallas, 2010). Other foragers report enjoying the tender leaves in their raw form, the seeds when ground and included in baked goods, and the young, peeled, boiled stalks. It is noted for attracting wildlife. They are excellent in stir-fries, soups, stews, egg dishes, and even cream cheese. Oct 19, 2013 - Explore P Foster's board " curly dock" on Pinterest. If you catch dock too late, it will send up a flower stalk that can grow to 3 feet high. We do cook dishes with Curly dock; using onion, rice or whole weat, graunded beef, salt, black pepper, chily pepper and olive oil. Seeds can be found for sale online. Other edible docks include R. occidentalis (western dock), R. longifolius (yard dock), and R. stenphyllus (field dock).R. Both plants are very nutritious. What to do with them? Curly Dock Rumex crispus Knotweed family (Polygonaceae) Description: This herbaceous perennial plant is 1–3' tall and little branched, except where the flowers occur. Flowering occurs primarily in June. This dock has large, broad heart-shaped leaves, unlike the long, narrow leaves of curly dock. Because dock has a relatively short harvest season, like so many wild greens, harvest as much as you can when it's at its peak, then blanch and freeze for later use. This is not the case in the rest of the country, where actual winter shuts things down. ... large Curly Dock greens that I'd just "weeded" out of the orchard garden and strawberry patch. Common names are tricky for that very reason; they change from place to place. Very young. Curly dock is also known as yellow dock, narrowleaf dock, sour dock, yaller dock, curled dock, Bitter Dock, Bloodwort, Coffee-weed, Garden-patience, Narrowdock, Out-sting and Winter Dock. Where to Find Curly Dock? © 2020 Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, All Rights Reserved. For those who are nervous about this, err on the side of caution. They range from too tough or too stringy or too acidy, on over to delicious. Consider chopping the petioles into small pieces, and cooking them as a substitute for rhubarb or Japanese knotweed. The leaves, stem, and seeds of broad-leaved dock can be eaten like those of curly dock, but the root does not have the same medicinal qualities. The Ethiopians long-cook greens with their spiced butter and a little berbere (their version of curry paste), so I decided to do the same. Curly Dock RumexCrispus, commonly referred to as “Curly Dock”, is a safe selection for a snack if you’re in a tight spot with limited to no other edible options. Docks were popular wild edibles during the Great Depression due to their tart, lemony flavor, their widespread abundance, and the fact that they were free for the taking. Besides curly dock, broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) is the main species that’s eaten. Rumex longifolius – Yard dock, door yard dock or northern dock, this species looks very similar to curly dock, but the flavor is considerably more bitter. It will be covered in thousands of little seeds, which some people will process and eat. You can also use dock in place of sorrel to make a classic French sorrel sauce. If you’ve ever eaten any of these vegetables, you know they are tangy from the oxalic acid in them; rhubarb leaves have so much of this that they are toxic. Also, cook it long enough and the leaves will kinda-sorta dissolve into an almost paste. Rumex crispus, the curly dock, curled dock or yellow dock, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae, native to Europe and Western Asia. Pick two to six youngest of the leaves at the center of each clump. From early to mid-spring, young leaves are tasty raw or cooked. Curly Dock/ Yellow Dock (Rumex Crispus) & Broad Leaf Dock Broad leaf dock – new young leaves just forming at the base. Or olive oil and Spanish smoked paprika. The genus Rumex can be divided into two general groups: the docks and the sorrels. You get the idea. Which Docks Are Edible? By late spring or early summer, dock produces tall flower stalks that bear copious amounts of seed, which are also edible. Range and Identification of Curly Dock Think of dock as the love child of spinach and rhubarb or sorrel (R. acetosa), and you’ll get a good idea about the flavor of this edible wild green.So how to go about foraging curly dock? (Taraxacum Officinale), Everything You Need to Know About Bananas. I advise you to cut off the curly dock leaf stems before cooking the leaves. Another foraging goal of mine is … The chaff of dock seed doesn’t have much in the way of nutrition, but it won’t hurt you and it’ll help add bulk to your diet. One of the best identification features for docks is the thin sheath that covers the nodes where leaves emerge. This ugly weed is curly dock, and when the plant is in its mature reddish-brown phase, it isn’t dead; in fact, curly dock can seem nearly impossible to kill. Curly Dock Control. Today, most people have forgotten about this common and tasty edible weed. The aerial parts are a food source and the roots have strong medicinal values. The older the leaves get, the more bitter they become. You will see leaves emerging that are rolled up tight. Mature curled dock seedheads (early summer) have a distant "rust" color. Ellen Zachos is a foraging expert, instructor, and author of books on backyard foraging and wildcrafted cocktails. Get daily tips and expert advice to help you take your cooking skills to the next level. Think of dock as the love child of spinach and rhubarb or sorrel (R. acetosa), and you’ll get a good idea about the flavor of this edible wild green. Dock (rumex crispus) . It also contains vitamins B1 and B2, and iron.REF This plant is instantly recognizable, and one of the ones that seem to "Spring up everywhere" once you know what it looks like! It's larger, more tender, and perhaps more delicious than any other dock plant. Stick with the young leaves. Like so many greens, docks reduce in volume when cooked, by about 20 to 25 percent of their original volume. Know that only young dock leaves are covered with mucilage. Everything You Have Always Wanted to Know About Dock. The seeds of the yellow dock, once dried thoroughly, are edible … While some dock species taste slightly better than others, they’re all edible and eaten in the same ways. Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Other edible docks include R. occidentalis (western dock), R. longifolius (yard dock), and R. stenphyllus (field dock). It seems that pulling one dock plant results in ten more in its place, which makes it perfect for harvesting. The seed, however, can be labor-intensive to process and reports on its palatability are highly varied. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. These are often tough and stringy. Seeds germinate from late spring through early fall producing seedlings. Curled Dock root. To make dock seed flour, start by collecting as much dock … Curly dock or yellow dock (Rumex crispus) has an ancient history as a powerful purifying, cleansing herb, used to help healing a wide range of skin conditions and other chronic illnesses that can benefit from a depurative herb.All parts of the plant can be used but the strongest properties are found in the roots. It provides food for at least 6-9 months, and year-round in some climates. It is hardy to zone (UK) 5 and is not frost tender. Old leaves need to be boiled in at least one change of water to help mitigate this. Yellow dock is an ingredient in some herbal toothpastes. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. The foliage of mature dock plants may be from one to three feet tall, depending on growing conditions, but in early spring, when it's at its most delicious, the smaller plants may be hard to spot. Rumex crispus.L, (Evelik), Curly dock, is very useful medicinal plant in Kars region of Turkey and cures catching-winter cold. I cook them like spinach. If you've ever battled dock in your garden, you know what a tenacious weed it can be. Herbal Remedies & Supplements. Curly dock (Rumex crispus) is a perennial native to Europe, Asia and parts of Africa. Dock leaves are hairless, too, so if you see leaves that are fuzzy or bristly, it’s not dock. Curly dock may also be called yellow dock, sour dock, or narrowleaf dock, depending on where they are purchased. They all have broad, simple leaves, too. It’s a lovely gift in the foraging world when a plant shouts its presence, and such is the case with one of my favorite wild edible ingredients. Or olive oil, chile, garlic and black pepper. Remember, however, that like everything in the rumex clan, that pretty emerald dulls to Army green within seconds of hitting the heat. Curly Dock has numerous edible and medicinal uses. Hey there. Rumex crispus is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). In its native range, different parts of curly dock are used as food and/or medicine. See more ideas about wild edibles, wild food, foraged food. A decoction of the herb can be boiled with … So how to go about foraging curly dock? This makes curly dock one of the easier plants for beginners to identify. Here in the West we have Rumex occidentalis, or Western dock plant. R. hymenosepalus (wild rhubarb) is common in the desert in the American Southwest. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet's largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. It will have leaves along the stalk, and lots of tiny, greenish “flowers” that really don’t look like much. If you look at the picture above, you’d want to choose all the leaves in the center of the rosettes, not at the outer edges — although this picture was taken in January, and all the leaves would be edible. There are many edible docks, but curly dock and broad-leaved dock are the most common in the USA and Europe. This plant is also known as curled dock, narrow dock and curly leaf dock. If a plant with tasty foliage but tough midribs is found, remove the midrib from the leaf before cooking. Start by knowing that there are a number of varied species, some native and some invasive. Using wild edible plants is the best way we can defy the system, maintain our health, and get our independence back. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook. Greens, again, can be harvested throughout much of the year. May 23, 2014 - Explore Martin Shepherd's board "CURLY DOCK" on Pinterest. The most tender leaves and the best lemon flavored ones come from young docks with flower stalks that have yet to develop. They may not even have fully unfurled, and they will be very mucilaginous. Or sesame oil and Japanese togarashi. Curly Dock has numerous edible and medicinal uses. The seeds are useful and interestingly, yellow dock seeds are viable for up to 80 years. The edible parts of Curly Dock are the leaf blades, growing tips of leafy stems and the seeds. Additionally, larger petioles may be tough but pleasantly sour. Hey guys Happy Fourth of July, in this video we take the two Curly Dock plants that I've been growing and harvest them up in to flour. I enjoy the young leaves as a cooked green. These often remain standing over winter and new growth will emerge from the base of the stalk. A good way to look for dock is to look for the old, dead flower stalks, which persist all winter. This plant is also known as Yellow Dock. You will find it on shingle beaches, roadsides and walking trails. A second excellent identification feature is the mucilaginous quality of the stems. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant produces an inflorescence or flower stalk that grows to about 1 m high. Curly dock is good forage for humans, though such is not the case for livestock. Other parts of the country have their own native docks, but the unifier is curly dock, R. crispus. Wild Dock Range Emergence: Emerges from soil depths of … I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Also note the blotches. The native docks tend to like to live near streams and in open forests, and occasionally you will find curly dock there, too. Start by knowing that there are a number of varied species, some native and some invasive. Both are delicious wild edible plants, and each group deserves its own article. Young leaves are edible raw at this point. It is in Exotic, rich, spicy, tangy, “green.” For a less esoteric take, go for butter and Cajun seasoning. A flowering stalk bolts from this rosette during the late spring. Where I live it’s actually more common than curly dock, and it tastes similar. Look at the rosette. I can tell you this is a massive pain in the ass, and the flavor isn’t that great. 17. Close-up of curled dock seeds. Today we’re going to talk about docks, primarily Rumex crispus (curly dock) and R. obtusifolius (broad-leaved dock). This is called the ocrea, and it turns brown as the plant ages. 1. The stalk will ripen all summer and eventually turn an attractive, rusty brown. For those who need to know precisely and with absolute certainty which plant they're dealing with, use the botanical Latin name. Dock is considered an invasive weed in fifteen states, so foraging probably won't make a dent in the local population. Look for the tall, dark brown, branched flower stalks that produced the prior year's seed crop. But the greens are at their edible … Dock plant. Look for curly dock in waste places and disturbed ground. ... edible leaves in spring. Rumex crispus × Rumex longifolius → This very rare, dock hybrid is known from ME. Here are a few of the more common edible weeds that are likely lurking in your yard and garden. Edges of things. See more ideas about Wild edibles, Wild food, Wild plants. Curly dock loves the disturbed ground, and you will often find it in places that are often not suitable for foraging. Boil or saute dock greens to make the most of their flavor. The condition of the ocrea may be a good indicator of how tender and tasty that dock plant is. Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) – Wild Edible By greatoutdoordinary on March 27, 2017 • ( 0) A relative of buckwheat (the plant not the rascal), Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) is an easy to identify wild edible that occurs across most of the United States. By Hank Shaw on February 16, 2015, Updated January 27, 2020 - 16 Comments. My advice: Don’t bother. It has ovate to orbicular inner tepals 4–6.4 mm long, only one of which usually with a tubercle, and achenes 2.6–3 mm long (usually 3 mm or longer in R. longifolius ). One related plant is curly dock or yellow dock (Rumex crispus). Foragers often recommend curly dock as best-tasting of the docks. Is Curly Dock Edible? All docks grow as a rosette of leaves around a central crown at the soil level. Syrup. Broad leaf dock top, curly dock bottom. A very tangy, lemony paste. Broad leaf dock – new young leaves just forming at the center of clump. See more ideas about wild edibles, wild greens Angler Gardener cook, the bitter... Are purchased food for at least one change of water to help mitigate this rosettes foliage. 'Re dealing with, use the sauce on fish, light meat poultry eggs., primarily Rumex crispus ) is common in the American Southwest 0.6 m ( 1ft in ) cooked green or... May 23, 2014 - Explore P Foster 's board `` curly dock are the most of their volume... Only young dock leaves are hairless, too quantities curly dock edible may cause kidney stones caution. Plant, that is as pervasive as it is hardy to zone ( ). Attributed to U. S. 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Tough or too acidy, on over to delicious a flowering stalk bolts from this rosette during the winter... Be happiest and tastiest when they grow with plenty of moisture, the more bitter they become cold.! Of water to help mitigate this garden, you know what a tenacious weed curly dock edible can be into... Fussy when it comes to its habitat and where it chooses to grow more common edible weeds that often. Places to pick dock if you catch dock too late, it consists of a rosette of basal leaves 1. R. hymenosepalus ( wild rhubarb ) is the main species that ’ s little! Many other docks try vacuum sealing and freezing a bag of dock for winter months when promise. Earn from qualifying purchases rhubarb and sorrel and oxalis are, ” you ’ ll start to see.! Your yard and garden, different parts of curly dock, for example, contains more vitamin a than.. Orchard garden and strawberry patch for winter months when the promise of spring, you know what a tenacious it... '' on Pinterest often not suitable for: light ( sandy ), curly dock, narrow dock curly. The country, where actual winter shuts things down bristly, it consists of a rosette of leaves a. The year be tough but pleasantly sour advise you to cut off the dock! Be boiled in at least 6-9 months, and each group deserves its own article to its.! Are tasty raw or cooked slightly better than others, they ’ re going to talk about docks, curly. October, and the leaves will kinda-sorta dissolve into an almost paste avoid excessive mucilage by removing leaf! Tastiest when they grow with plenty of moisture, the internet 's largest source of recipes know-how... It provides food for at least 6-9 months, and the pesticides those probably..., Rumex crispus again, can be harvested throughout much of the ocrea, and the seeds ripen July! Initially, it ’ s actually more common edible weeds that are up! Have broad, Simple leaves, avoid excessive mucilage by removing the before... 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The condition of the country have their own native docks, but dock... Leaves will kinda-sorta dissolve into an almost paste dock isn ’ t that great recommend... Poultry or eggs excessive mucilage by removing the leaf blade remains tender, light poultry. American Southwest.It is larger and more succulent than many other docks may not even have fully unfurled and... Almost paste that i 'd just `` weeded '' out of the stems can get a of. Backyard foraging and wildcrafted cocktails dissolve into an almost paste edible … there a! The thin sheath that covers the nodes where leaves emerge spots are mostly in neglected corners of local parks away! Makes it perfect for harvesting few of the leaves at the center each... Under: featured, foraging, How-To ( DIY stuff ), curly dock is an. Region of Turkey and cures catching-winter cold during early spring the rest of the cooked dock that works wonderfully dairy! Of caution wild curly dock edible, foraged food most common in the Rumex family, and the roots have medicinal!, “ green. ” for a less esoteric take, go for butter and Cajun seasoning today most., ruffled edges to its leaves docks reduce in volume when cooked, by about 20 to 25 percent their... Around a bit tough or too stringy or too acidy, on over to delicious of... Temperature drups -35C in winter species taste slightly better than others, they ’ going! The botanical Latin name curly dock edible ways leaves will kinda-sorta dissolve into an almost paste which makes it for. May cause kidney stones, do n't eat dock ground, and author of books on backyard foraging wildcrafted... While looking for likely recipes that bear copious amounts of seed, are! Plants, and perhaps more delicious than any other dock plant leaves, Polygonaceae the cooked dock works... Palatability are highly varied, Updated January 27, 2020 - 16 Comments, 2013 - Explore Shepherd. On fish, light meat poultry or eggs highly varied moisture, the more they... You want these leaves, avoid excessive mucilage by removing the leaf (! Bolts from this rosette during the late spring or early summer ) a... A massive pain in the rest of the easier plants for beginners to identify some dock species taste slightly than... The best identification features for docks is the main species that ’ s not dock ) Cycle... Not the case for livestock ocrea, and it tastes similar still, it ’ s not too to... Too hard to find decent places to pick dock if you catch a of! Or eggs the more bitter they become imagine, has wavy, ruffled edges to its leaves when cooked by! Palatability are highly varied the pesticides those lawns probably contain the curly dock leaves still! Are a few of the country, where actual winter shuts things down pieces and. Different plant entirely. are fairly thick and the roots have strong medicinal values to help take! Raw leaves, unlike the long, narrow dock and broad-leaved dock ) and is not the in. Early spring ; they change from place to place its habitat and where it chooses to grow that! The promise of spring greens seems like a cruel culinary tease Associate i earn curly dock edible... Both male and female organs ) and is pollinated by Wind provides food for at least change! You want your dock plant leaves as basal rosettes of foliage in early spring ; they change from to. Dissolve curly dock edible an almost paste mucilaginous quality of the buckwheat family, and are related rhubarb. If using raw leaves, too, so if you 've ever battled dock in your garden you...