Originally from Eurasia and Europe, this is considered a weed in the U.S. It withstands drought, temporary flooding, and occasional mowing. The seeds can persist in the ground for several decades (at least 50 years) and remain viable.
Alternate Names: Curled Dock, Yellow Dock Size: 1-3' tall Family: Polygonaceae (Knotweed Family) Habitat: Weedy meadows, pastures and fallow fields, vacant lots, roadside banks, gravelly areas along railroads, edges of yards, gardens, and miscellaneous waste areas. Disturbed areas are preferred. Identification: "The plant produces an inflorescence or flower stalk that grows to 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) high.[3] It has smooth leaves shooting off from a large basal rosette, with distinctive waved or curled edges; these can grow to 14–24 cm (5.5–9.4 in).[3] On the stalk, flowers and seeds are produced in clusters on branched stems, with the largest cluster being found at the apex. The seeds are shiny, brown and encased in the calyx of the flower that produced them. This casing enables the seeds to float on water and get caught in wool and animal fur, and this helps the seeds spread to new locations.[4] The root structure is a large, yellow, forking taproot." From Wikipedia
