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Plants of the Omaha Indian Reservation
An Ethonobotanical Report
Rumex crispus
HABITAT AND LOCATION: Curly Dock is a common plant that probably occurs in every county of
Illinois. 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. USES: The leaves can be used in salads, just a cooked vegetable, or put into soup, but wash the really young leaves because they contain a chemical which can numb your tongue. The plant has been used since around 500 B.C. for medicinal reasons, most of which are based on the plants roots. A poultice from the roots has been used for iron-deficiency anemia, blood purifying and liver decongestant, and it remedies constipation and syphilis. The seeds of curly dock were once roasted and used as a coffee substitute. The main uses of the curly dock plant today would be for food since the leaves, stalk, and the seeds are all edible.
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