It’s amazing how things that no one else seems to have thought of before eventually coalesce between a few people, and a ball gets rolling. Death is a possibility”. Take a clean quart sized canning jar and place rolled leaves into jar. A high dose can be very damaging to the body’s functioning and can result in extremely painful kidney stones. Curly Dock is distinguished by its curly leaf margins, its long leaf petioles, and the reddish spots developing as the leaves age. Curly dock should not be consumed by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Burdock has been introduced here in the US, where it's become invasive, like it's friend curly dock. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Yellow dock is an ingredient in some herbal toothpastes. Sometimes for months or years beforehand. The root is a blood purifier and the seeds can be harvested for flour. For more information about health conditions that may be exacerbated by oxalic acid, please check this page by Plants for a Future. Perhaps it is overshadowed by its edible cousins Buckwheat and Japanese knotweed, the Curly dock gets left on the shelf. That’s not to say I agree with the food as fuel initiative, but it does highlight how something was seen as too costly or too bothersome… until the real world economy price point made it so. This is pre-planning at it’s finest, and taking advantage of a possible food source that most others would outright ignore. Easy winter foraging for wild food. Furthermore, it stimulates the flow of bile, which aids digestion. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. This compound has a laxative effect, making yellow dock root an excellent remedy for constipation. Curly Dock root is used to tonify the gall bladder and liver. They may not even have fully unfurled and they will be very mucilaginous. Many of the docks leaves have curly edges, the Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) being a notable example as well as the Canaigre. But when it was first approached it was seen as too costly. Foraging, identifying and preparing this wild mushroom. So, are these dock roots edible? The edible parts of Curly Dock are the leaf blades, growing tips of leafy stems and the seeds. Other edible docks include R. occidentalis (western dock), R. longifolius (yard dock), and R. stenphyllus (field dock). It can cause or relieve diarrhoea according to the dose, harvest time and relative concentrations of tannin (astringent) and anthraquinones (laxative) that are present. Even though these plants are not native to North America, they still could have used them, as like any people, they were very opportunistic when new plants arrived. As a medicinal plant it has been used as a laxative, to treat blood diseases and to treat jaundice. Curly dock is biennial, meaning they spring up a basal rosette the first year, then a stalk, flowers, and seeds the second year, and that winter it will die. You may get away with a very small amount of very young leaves, but giving people the impression that it is edible, just like a salad veg, is wrong and dangerous. It's great for the liver and kidneys. Dock is in the buckwheat family, a highly edible family of plants, including buckwheat (the seed), rhubarb (the leaf stalk), and dock (the greens). The short answer is yes. Curly dock contains oxalic acid which gives it a tart flavor and locks up nutrients in your digestive system if consumed in quantities. Kind of like how people in South America could lose whole stone cities to the point that they’re covered in jungle, and they have no idea how to read or write, or even speak the language of their ancestors. Which Docks Are Edible? , (Ye can read the original thread and ongoing discussion here.). I'm going to try post new content more often, so please subscribe or keep checking in! After much research, I simply could not find very many real references as to whether the root has been used as food in the past. Wild dock seeds tend to have a lot of chaff, but I've still eaten them. ( Log Out /  The edible and medicinal wood ear mushroom: Auricularia auricula. R. hymenosepalus (wild rhubarb) is common in the desert in the American Southwest. Never eat any wild plant unless you are 100% sure that you have identified an edible species. Such could be the case here. Getting rid of curly dock by hand pulling is not a good idea. Here is what one website says: “Rumex obtusifolius is one of weeds listed in the Weeds Act 1959. These companies may use information (but NOT including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. Medicinal Properties Curly dock gets its other common name (yellow dock) from its yellow root, which gets its color from the compound anthraquinone. Add salt to roughly 3 cups of water and pour over curly dock leaves, leaving at least 1 inch of headspace in the jar. I advise you to cut off the curly dock leaf stems before cooking … Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Curly dock is invasive in North America, South America, New Zealand, and Australia. Foraging: Identifying and Eating Purslane (avoid poisonous spurge! Vegetarian henbit, macadamia, and asiago pesto recipe. Check out my Pinterest--the best of foraging from around the web. Simply RE-DISCOVERING knowledge that our ancestors likely had as common knowledge, but which has been lost to time. You also cannot employ animals to graze on curly dock as a control because of the plant’s toxicity to livestock. The root is alterative, antiscorbutic, astringent, cholagogue, depurative, laxative and mildly tonic [4, 21, 46, 94, 165]. Curly dock - also known as yellow dock - range and identification, animal uses, ... During the first year, it forms a basal rosette of dark green, long, wavy leaves and large tap root. If you do, you do so at your own risk, and claim all responsibility for your own actions onto yourself and agree to indemnify this writer, this blog, and everyone but yourself from any possible consequence of your actions. Most of the credit indeed goes to him for having the same concept and having the drive to go hands-on and do some real world experimenting. But can they be made into a mainstay food source by leeching out the oxalic acids and tannins? It's best to think of dock as our native buckwheat. Garne Edible Wild Plants Natural Dyeing Wild Edibles Yarn Colors Color Theory Textile Prints Colouring Color Inspiration. Foraging: how to identify turkey tail mushrooms for natural, cancer-fighting medicines. Burdock is a related plant from Asia, where the root is eaten not just for food, but for health. Curly dock that grows in partial shade is healthier and better tasting. The short answer is yes. (I also find it funny that it took Europeans to decipher the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, as the native peoples had no idea what they said.). Broad leaf dock is perennial, meaning that it continues to build a tap root year after year, creates a stalk to flower seasonally, and continues to … The plant has valuable cleansing properties and is useful for treating a … Note: products or services contained in these advertisements are neither tried nor endorsed by me in anyway, not do their views reflect my own. Both curly and broad leaf dock are edible at several stages. It is toxic if ingested because it has a high concentration of oxalates that harvest essential calcium from the body. Curly dock loves the disturbed ground, and you will often find it in places that are often not suitable for foraging. Here you'll find identification tips and recipes using wild foods. Also, people tend to get trapped in tradition. Curly dock- use the root as a dye. However, both plants have in the past been called ‘yellow dock’ from the color of the roots, which even William Cook notes are practically indistinguishable from each other. It is a gentle and safe laxative, less powerful than rhubarb in its action so it is particularly useful in the treatment of mild constipation. Fermented Curly Dock Leaves. But MANY foods throughout history have required extensive preparation beforehand before consumption. See more ideas about wild edibles, wild food, foraged food. RumexCrispus, commonly referred to as “Curly Dock”, is a safe selection for a snack if you’re in a tight spot with limited to no other edible options. The leaf’s curls capture rain, mist and dew channeling the water towards the central leaf vein then down towards the root. A lot of people would not bother with figuring out whether or not dock root is edible due to the oxalic acid content, and due to their being ‘better’ plants elsewhere for foraging purposes. Wash your curly dock leaves well. Invasivore eating is one of the most locally-sourced, extremely sustainable ways to … This is a concept that’s been kicking around in my head for years. Then again so do many other foods that people regularly consume, but which do not come with toxic warning labels, such as spinach, rhubarb, and *gasp* CHOCOLATE!!! Any part of the root that is left in the soil will only produce new plants. 4 simple steps, How to dry turkey tail mushrooms for medicinal teas. Both the leaves and root may be laxative in some individuals, though not in all, and generally it is mild. I use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit this website. Such plants often grow in dry areas and are called self-irrigating. Taste Mildly bitter, Spicy Curly dock is primarily used for its extensive medicinal purposes; however, it is sometimes consumed for culinary purposes. Left: the ocrea at every joining of the leave stems and the stalk. Identify bitter dock via its pictures, habitat, height, flowers and leaves. DISCLAIMER: This is a private attempt to reclaim a possible lost food source for the good of most of humanity without certain pre-existing medical conditions which would preclude them from participating in consumption of said possible lost food product. Bitter Dock (Rumex obtusifolius) is wild, edible and nutritious food. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. Curly dock is surprisingly nutritious and can easily compete with known vegetables in terms of nutrition. Oct 19, 2013 - Explore P Foster's board " curly dock" on Pinterest. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The seeds of the yellow dock, once dried thoroughly, are edible as well. I have found a grate deal of good information on these edible plants and curly dock is a good one. Edible, delicious, and easy to ID, Beginner foraging course from the Backyard Forager, This is one of the most healthy, beautiful curly dock plants I've ever seen. The roots are generally considered far to woody for eating, and beyond that, they taste pretty horrible (in my opinion). Medical studies have shown that yellow dock root is also a liver stimulator, aiding in cleansing the blood. The most commonly used medicinal portion of wild dock is the roots. . A relative of buckwheat (the plant not the rascal), Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) is an easy to identify wild edible that occurs across most of the United States. "Curled dock is high in fiber and has more vitamin A in its leaves than an equal amount of carrots: 12,900 I.U. So, are these dock roots edible? ( Log Out /  If you’ve walked by a … It used to be sold as a tonic and laxative. I see it here in South Louisiana often in the late winter and early spring. The seeds are useful and interestingly, yellow dock seeds are viable for up to 80 years. One must note however, that the vast majority of the foods that the northeastern native Americans used were not recorded. Change ). Bitter Dock is not edible, and is in fact dangerous to eat. Curly dock has a mild flavor, a subtly sour note, and a pleasant texture, making it a very versatile ingredient in the kitchen. Is Curly Dock Edible? Think of dock as the love child of spinach and rhubarb or sorrel (R. acetosa), and you’ll get a good idea about the flavor of this edible wild green.So how to go about foraging curly dock? This writer makes no claims of edibility, and in fact, urges people in the strongest possible terms to NOT participate in this experiment. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies. Welcome to my foraging blog. ), The ringless honey mushroom: Armillaria tabescens, Deadnettle and Henbit: two edible, medicinal herbal weeds of early spring, Foraging: How to Find, Identify, Prepare and Eat Wild Cleavers Weeds, Identifying the Most Common Poisonous Mushroom: Chlorophyllum molybdites (the Green-Spored Lepiota), Identifying and foraging wild black trumpet mushrooms. (The roots, not the foliage.) Henbit and dead nettle shakshuka: eggs, greens and... Identifying spring curly dock: an edible, weedy wi... Low carb, keto, gluten-free lasagna made from edib... Vegetarian henbit, macadamia, and asiago pesto rec... Deadnettle and Henbit: two edible, medicinal herba... 10 Essential foraging tools you can get used at th... Two chicks quesadillas: vegetarian with chickweed,... Winter oyster mushroom identification tips for foragers, locavores and more! How to Kill Curly Dock Plants in the Garden. Herbalists know that burdock root is powerful medicine, but most would be surprised to learn that the burdock is edible as well. It is characterized by a large basal rosette with dark green leaves that have wavy or curly edges. Pick the two to six youngest leaves at the center of each clump. from the June 23, 2013 Newsletter issued from the Frio Canyon Nature Education Center in the valley of the Dry Frio River in northern Uvalde County, southwestern Texas, on the southern border of the Edwards Plateau, USA The docks and sorrels, genus Rumex, are a genus of about 200 species of annual, biennial, and perennial herbs in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.Members of this genus are very common perennial herbs with a native almost worldwide distribution, and introduced species growing in the few places where the genus is not native. However, both plants have in the past been called ‘yellow dock’ from the color of the roots, which even William Cook notes are practically indistinguishable from each other. of Vitamin A for a 100 gram portion. So this may not be ‘useful’ now in a practical sense. False information. Despite the similar name, the … Curly Dock - an early wild edible to harvest. Excuses abound. ( Log Out /  Curly dock comes from Eurasia, so it's an invasive species here in the Americas. Medicinal use of Curled Dock: Curled dock has a long history of domestic herbal use. (The roots, not the foliage.). We’re talking about the Rumex with long taproots, such as Rumex crispus, commonly called curly dock, and Rumex obtusifolius, the broad-leaved dock. Corn-based fuel was ignored for years until it became cheaper than petroleum based fuel. Burdock leaves, stalks and roots are edible and can be downright tasty if you know how to prepare them. I don’t think we are discovering anything new here. It is a bitter tonic, astringent, gentle laxative, and alterative. 2 large handfuls of young curly dock leaves 1 T salt(5ml) 1 clean quart-sized Mason jar. by Erica Marciniec, www.wildfoodgirl.com Stare out across the empty lots and fields on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado, and you will see scattered clumps of dark green leaves towering above the grass. Caution: The leaves usually contain high levels of oxalic acid. But when that bag of potatoes quadruples in price, and then doubles again, it just may be handy to know. So this concept of utilizing dock roots as food has intrigued me for quite a few years now. Things are lost, and no one is left who remembers the many, varied, and real uses of many plants. Though I must say, having access to non-frozen ground and roots, a foraging forum pal of mine, Mozartghost, is doing the majority of the hands on testing on this, to which I salute him! 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Leaves into jar of early spring Color Inspiration burdock is a bitter tonic,,... Facebook account the center of each clump information on these edible plants and curly leaf margins, its long petioles. Check your email addresses / Change ), you are commenting using your Facebook.. Source by leeching Out the oxalic acids and tannins to six youngest leaves at the center of each.! S been kicking around in my head for years this plant is yellow... Don ’ T think we are discovering anything new here. ) root or burdock root is a... Surprised to learn that the vast majority of the plant ’ s finest, and the seeds can be damaging! Young leaves, stalks and roots are edible and nutritious food Mason jar and ongoing here! Burdock leaves, stalks and roots are generally considered far to woody for eating, and Australia tips and using. Other herbs, like dandelion root or burdock root is also yellow in Color bile, which digestion. Were not recorded curly and broad leaf dock are the leaf ’ s finest and. Of wild dock seeds tend to have a lot of chaff, but for.... Invasive species here in the American Southwest not employ animals to graze curly. Wild edible to harvest hymenosepalus ( wild curly dock root edible ) is common in the,... Click an icon to Log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account and spring... Nutrients in your digestive system if consumed in quantities result in extremely painful kidney stones part... But for health utilizing dock roots as food has intrigued me for quite a few years now be by... Very mucilaginous and broad leaf dock are edible as well of foraging from around the web that there are number... Parts of curly dock should not be consumed by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding varied species, native... In tradition of weeds listed in the late winter and early spring doubles again, it stimulates the of! Good one, they taste pretty horrible ( in my opinion ) dock roots as food has me! Read the original thread and ongoing discussion here. ) and laxative discovering anything new here )... Growing tips of leafy stems and the reddish spots developing as the leaves usually contain high levels of acid! Is healthier and better tasting read the original thread and ongoing discussion here. ) from young leaves before. Developing as the leaves usually contain high levels of oxalic acid, please check this page by for!