|
| Sheep Sorrel; Rumex Acetosella L. |
Buckwheat Family; POLYGONACEÆ
|
| Sheep Sorrel is a perennial herb of scrawny size, with a famously tenacious, wide-spreading rootstock. The stringy roots send
up beautifully shaped and soft-textured leaves of arrowhead shape, an inch or two long. The leaves are normally light green, but are dark
with a red tinge in blasting sunshine. The pliable flowerstems begin to open their tiny red flowers in May (as shown in the ABOVE PHOTO). Male and female flowers are on
separate plants. Yellow pollen makes the males showy. Being so common, with such a distinctive appearance, Sheep Sorrel is familiar
and unmistakable. |
| This Eurasian native is a cousin of various Docks, Smartweeds and Knotweeds. Though sharing the "Sorrel" name with others
(both obnoxious weeds and cultivated herbs) it is not closely related to those kinds (genus
Oxalis) with clover-like leaves. It is also called
Field, Red or Horse Sorrel, as well as Sourgrass and Sourweed. |
| Sheep Sorrel is easily found, growing in gardens, rockeries, meadows and some poor lawns. Extremely dry sites stunt it; partial
shade and moist, rich soil make it leafier, larger and more succulent. Hard frosts cut it down. Rapidly spreading by its very efficient
horizontal root network, this weed proves a curse to anyone trying to get rid of it. The little arrowhead leaves just keep popping up somewhere else. |
| Each leaf is bite size and a delicious, first-rate edible, combing pleasing form, crunch and flavor with necessary vitamins,
minerals and enzymes. However, we must eat Sorrel sparingly, whether in soups or salads; immoderate consumption can be harmful, leading
to calcium oxalate kidney stones in some cases. The same caution applies to Rhubarb, Swiss Chard and Spinach. |
Gardeners who love the sour flavor but find controlling the weed too difficult should
somehow kill it all and acquire Garden
Sorrel (Rumex Acetosa hortensis) featuring far larger leaves of identical texture and flavor.
|
Originally published as the Seattle Tilth newsletter Weed of the Month in November 1988, along with an illustration drawn by Sylvan Haven.
Back |
|
|
