Rumex crispus

Leaves curly, crinkled, or wavy not flat. Fruit sessile. Under 2" wide. Ocres at stem nodes.

Seeds require alternating temperatures of degrees 68-86 F (20-30 C) and light for germination (Gardner 1921, Cross 1931, Everson 1949). They remain viable in dry storage for at least 5 years and average approximately 226,000/lb.

The following information is for genus Rumex with note that R. acetosella is especially important: Animals that eat its seeds: Cinnamon teal, Canada goose, Sora rail, Redwing blackbird, Cowbird, Horned lark, American pipit, Field sparrow, Fox sparrow, Eastern grasshopper sparrow, Henslow sparrow, Swamp sparrow, Tree sparrow, Vesper sparrow, White-crowned sparrow. Animals that eat its leaves and seeds: Greater prairie chicken, Bobwhite quail, Wild turkey, Woodcock, Meadow mouse, Pine mouse, White-footed mouse. Animals that eat the plant: Cottontail rabbit (Martin et al. 1951).

Found in soil that is moist at least part of the year, usually in disturbed ground, in Louisiana, east and southeast Texas. A Eurasian weed that is now naturalized in temperate climates throughout the world. The young leaves can be eaten in the spring before turning bitter, or they can be boiled in several changes of water to remove the bitter element.

Seasonally moist usually disturbed ground, waste places, pastures, fields, roadsides.