[Docks and Sorrels: The Genus Rumex in The Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Curly Dock, Sour Dock

Rumex crispus

Synonyms: Lapathum crispum, Rumex crispus ssp. crispus

Curly Dock, Sour Dock: Rumex crispus (Synonyms: Lapathum crispum, Rumex crispus ssp. crispus)

Curly dock as seen on the sandy beach along the Columbia River at The Dalles Riverside Park.........October 12, 2011. Note the unbranched stem which helps distinguish from the similar willow-dock (Rumex salicifolius).

Winged fruits of Curly Dock, Sour Dock: Rumex crispus (Synonyms: Lapathum crispum, Rumex crispus ssp. crispus) - Winged fruits of Curly Dock, Sour Dock: Rumex crispus (Synonyms: Lapathum crispum, Rumex crispus ssp. crispus)

Close-ups of the winged fruits of curly dock. Note the netted pattern of veins on the deltate- or triangular-shaped wings. Photographed at Catherine Creek.......July 7, 2006.

"Crisped" leaf margin of Curly Dock, Sour Dock: Rumex crispus (Synonyms: Lapathum crispum, Rumex crispus ssp. crispus)

The photo above shows a close-up of a stem leaf of curly dock. Note the very wavy leaf margin, a characteristic of this species. Photographed at Catherine Creek.........July 7, 2006.

Close-up of the panicle branches of the inflorescence of Curly Dock, Sour Dock: Rumex crispus (Synonyms: Lapathum crispum, Rumex crispus ssp. crispus) - Close-up of the basal leaves of Curly Dock, Sour Dock: Rumex crispus (Synonyms: Lapathum crispum, Rumex crispus ssp. crispus)

Close-ups of some of the panicle branches in the inflorescence and the very wavy leaf margins on the basal leaf blades of curly dock. Photographed on the sandy beach along the Columbia River at The Dalles Riverside Park........October 12, 2011.
Paul Slichter