Curly Dock

Description:

"This adventive perennial plant is 1–3' tall and little branched, except where the flowers occur. Initially, it consists of a rosette of basal leaves about 1' across. A flowering stalk bolts from this rosette during the late spring. This stalk is round in cirumference, hairless, and ribbed. The alternate cauline leaves are up to 6" long and 1" across (excluding their petioles). They are oblong-lanceolate, hairless, and dull green. Their margins are crisped and undulate up and down. Their petioles are up to 2" long, becoming broader at the base. The basal leaves have a similar appearance, except that they are somewhat larger in size, their petioles are longer, and their margins are less crisped or wavy. The inflorescence consists of a panicle of racemes with whorls of flowers; it is about ½–1½' long. Each plant has perfect (bisexual) and pistillate (female) flowers; they are pollinated by the wind." From: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weed...

Habitat:

"Curly Dock is a common plant that probably occurs in every county of Illinois (see Distribution Map). It is native to Eurasia and was first observed in the United States during the 18th century. Habitats include seeps, glades, weedy meadows (including areas prone to occasional flooding), pastures and fallow fields, vacant lots, roadside banks and gravelly areas along railroads, edges of yards and gardens, and miscellaneous waste areas. Disturbed areas are preferred." From: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weed...

Notes:

Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve, Kane County, IL.