00642 Verges Booklet - Devon County Council

(iii) Curled dock (Rumer crispus)
Description
The leaf of the curled dock is narrower than that of
broad leaved dock, its length being at least three
times its breadth with the sides appearing roughly
parallel. The leaves and their edges are wavy. The
flowering stem is erect and rarely branched. The
branches are angled close to the main stem and have
rather small leaves throughout their length. Growth
starts in May and flowering in early June.
Hybrids between curled dock and broad leaved
docks are quite common, exhibiting the full range of intermediate
characteristics.
Legislation
DEFRA has power, under the Weeds Act 1959, to require an occupier
of land to prevent the spread of curled dock. Under the Plant Varieties
and Seeds Act 1964 the Minister has the power to prohibit the sale of
seeds containing more than the prescribed proportion of docks and
sorrels.
Further Information and Control
For further information and details of control methods Food DEFRA
publish an advisory leaflet “Identification of Injurious Weeds” together
with a leaflet on the Weeds Act 1959.A contact address is given at the
end of this Appendix.
(iv) Creeping Thistle (Cirsium arvense)
Description
The shoots are produced afresh each season,
appearing in late spring as single stems, either
flowering or barren and commonly growing up to
1m in height. The flowering stems are shortly
branched mostly towards the top. Closely spined
leaves are carried on the full length of the stem.The
Image © Paul Hackney