#CurlyDock and an old #Orchard #Tree
This is at the abandoned property next door. I love all of the colors and textures here.
#RedWed #RidgefieldWA #Photography #PNW
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#CurlyDock
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#QueenAnne’sLace & #CurlyDock in front of a field at the edge of an #EvergreenForest
#PNW #GreenSat #RidgefieldWA #Photography
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#CurlyDock and #Frosted #Wild #Grasses in front of, and all around old #orchard #trees at an abandoned farm. #Scape #Photography
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Seeds on Curly Dock plant LEAVES AND STEM Curly dock leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. When the plant sends up a stem, the basal leaves generally become too tough and bitter to eat, but those on the stem may be palatable. However, the best portion is the stem itself! Harvest dock stems in late spring and early summer, before it reaches full height and any flowers appear. It should feel supple and bendy; if not, it’s probably too tough to eat. The outer layer may be stringy, but this can be peeled before eating. If it’s tender enough, eat it raw; otherwise it’s delicious steamed or sautéed. You could even pickle it! The flavor is similar to the leaves, except more “green” tasting—something like green beans. Dock leaves and stems contain oxalic acid, which is what gives them their yummy sour flavor. However, this does require a note of caution, as oxalic acid prevents the assimilation of minerals such as calcium and iron. But this compound is also found in many cultivated plants, including rhubarb, spinach, and Swiss chard. While one often reads warnings about oxalic acid in wild food literature, one rarely hears warnings about eating those domesticated foods.
This curly dock stands as tall as I do. If I didn’t cut them back each spring, this section of the yard could easily be over run by them. As a relative of buckwheat, dock seeds are edible as well. Some people say they’re not worth harvesting because so much processing is required to separate the seed from the chaff. However, you can just grind the seed and chaff all together as one. It’s just extra fiber and won’t hurt you. Seeds appear in late summer, and should be harvested when they’re brown, dry, and papery. They often remain on the plant throughout winter. The seeds grow in massive quantities on the stem and are quite easy to collect. Simply pick the entire stem using a knife or clippers. Then strip the seeds from the stem over a paper bag or large bowl. You’ll have a large amount in no time! Sift the seeds through a sieve or colander to remove any bugs or debris. Then grind them in a grain grinder, coffee grinder, mortar and pestle, or blender to make flour. Store in an airtight container. Since the flour doesn’t have gluten and contains a high amount of fiber, it’s easier to work with if mixed with wheat flour.
Curly dock seeds on the stem. Medicinal Properties Curly dock gets its other common name (yellow dock) from its yellow root, which gets its color from the compound anthraquinone. This compound has a laxative effect, making yellow dock root an excellent remedy for constipation. Furthermore, it stimulates the flow of bile, which aids digestion. It also soothes the intestinal lining, making it useful against irritable bowels. The root also has a diuretic effect, meaning that it stimulates urination. This can help with bloating, urinary tract infections, and urinary stones, especially when taking into account yellow dock’s soothing effect. As a cooling and healing root, it has been used to treat several kinds of inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, and nettle rash. It is also useful against internal inflammation, such as arthritis and rheumatism. DECOCTION Yellow dock root should be made into a decoction, in which the plant matter is boiled, instead of an infusion, in which the plant matter is steeped in hot water. Decoctions are used for tough, woody material such as roots, bark, and twigs, in order to extract the active constituents. Infusions are used for herbs with delicate aromatic principles that require more careful preparation. To make a decoction, start with ½ cup finely chopped fresh root. (Make sure you scrub the root clean first!) If using dried root, you will need less: only about ⅓ of the original amount, or about 3 tablespoons in this instance. Put the chopped root in a non-reactive pot, such as stainless steel or glass. Add 3 cups cold water. Bring to a boil, and simmer uncovered about 20 minutes, or until the liquid is reduced by approximately ⅓ (to 2 cups). Strain the liquid into a mug or jar and discard the plant material. The decoction can be drank hot or cold, and can be stored in the fridge for up to 48 hours. The standard dosage is one cup 3 times a day, though this varies depending on the person and the condition.
Curly dock growing in my fence row. ROOTS Curly dock is a perennial, meaning that the same plant returns year after year. The best time to harvest the roots is after it’s grown in size, which means waiting at least until the fall of its first year. The root can be dug throughout winter if weather allows. Where I live in Minneapolis, the ground freezes in winter, which makes it impossible to harvest roots at that time. If you live in a warmer climate you can probably dig curly dock roots throughout winter. Otherwise you can harvest the root in the spring of its second year, or any year thereafter. It’s best not to harvest roots when the plant has a living stalk (a dead winter stalk is fine), because that means that the plant is depleting energy from the root to make flowers and reproduce. Energy equals starch, which is the tasty part of the root that we humans like to consume! So spring and fall are the best times to harvest roots, because that’s when the plant is putting energy (i.e. starch) into the root instead of taking it away. The root of curly dock can grow quite large, so it’s easiest to harvest by digging alongside the root with a shovel or trowel, rather than attempting to pry it out of the ground. It is generally too bitter to be considered edible, though it does have some useful medicinal qualities.
Apparently I can make crackers with all this #CurlyDock. Going to try to list some properties under ALT besides context.
www.fourseasonforaging.com/blog/2020/1/...
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Evenin y'all! Meet #CurlyDock! A resilient perennial with reddish stems & wavy leaves, thriving in meadows & ditch banks. Its tiny flowers cluster tightly before turning a bold reddish-brown in maturity. A weed, but one with many medicinal uses!🌿😍 #Plants #Herbs #MedicinalPlants #Nature #Wildflowers
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