10 Apr Not A Weed Wednesday – Sand Dock
Posted at 08:00h
in Chewing Cud
Sand Dock (Rumex venosus)
Sand dock is an interesting plant that grows in disturbed sandy areas in the Special Areas. It has inconspicuous greenish flowers in May which turn into three sided yellow to red fruits (as shown in photo), making for quite a lovely prairie display in early June.
Sand dock can also be identified by its waxy leaves and white membranous stipules at the nodes (as seen in all members in the Sorrel family).
Sand dock is a useful early colonizing species to help stabilize active dunes or other disturbances due to its extensive rhizomes and fast growth.
Contact a Special Areas Rangeland Agrologist for more information on optimal range health and grazing on native grasslands.
