Rumex obtusifolius
Scientific Name | Rumex obtusifolius L. |
---|---|
Common Names | English: Bitter dock, broad-leaved dock; German: Stumpfblättriger Ampfer, French: Patience sauvage; Spanish: Acedera, romaza |
Description | Perennial, seed-propagated and root-propagated weed with vigorous, yellowing root stock, spreading through sprouts. R. obtusifolius has a deep taproot and is very similar to Rumex crispus. |
Gallery

Descriptions
Characteristic Features
Big cordate leaves with crisped margins. Often, the veins of the lower leaves are red.
Cotyledons
Lanceolate, ca. 20-25 mm (0.78 - 0.98 inch) long, with marked petiole.
Stems
Erect, usually several branches, sometimes red-splotched, up to 120 cm (47.2 inch) high.
Leaves
Lower leaves large, broad, ovate, cordate at the base, slightly ruffled, blunted, upper leaves smaller and more slender, oblong-lanceolate.
Propagation Organs
Flowers
Green, inconspicuous, in many-blossomed inflorescences that turn rust red.
Inner involucral leaves dentate on the margins.
Flowering Period
Summer.
Fruit
Triangular achene, often turns bright red, about 2 mm (0.078 inch) long.
Seeds
Germination in spring.
The hard-coated seeds are ovoid-oblongoid, rather large in size.
Viability of Seeds
Several decades.
Propagation
By seed and vegetatively.
Ca. 7,000 seeds/plant.
Occurrence
Habitat
Fields, gardens, waste ground, disturbed sites, damp woods, gravel bars, roadsides, railroads.
Soil
Loamy fertile soil.
Additional Crop Information
Meadows, pastures, partly in arable fields after reduced tillage practices.
Agricultural Importance
R. obtusifolius is a most important perennial weed, which is common in meadows and pastures. Low preference or even rejection by feeding animals may result in increasing dominance on grazed land.
Control
Useful non-chemical contribution to Integrated Weed Management
Hoeing or digging can be effective if the whole plant, including the root, can be removed. Old docks, especially those with well developed tap roots will often survive cultivation.
Chemical Control
Targeted application of (often) non-selective herbicides (spot spraying).
Related Crops
Choose directly from Category

Pests
Search directly for a particular pest

Diseases
Search directly for a particular disease

Weeds
Search directly for a particular weed