Rumex acetosella L.

Red sorrel, sheep sorrel, sour weed, field sorrel

About plant names...

Sheep sorrel is native to Eurasia, introduced to North America and now common here.

Identification: Sheep sorrel is an early colonizer of disturbed soil, such as railroad beds, roadsides, and mining sites, with a preference for wet or seasonally wet areas. It is up to 18" (45 cm) in height, often closer to half that height, with a few pale silver-colored lance-shaped leaves. Some of the leaves at the base are hastate, like an arrow with two barbs at the bottom. Flowers occur in spikes about 3-8" (7.6-20 cm) tall, tightly branched. Male flowers are yellowish-green, and female flowers are red to maroon. Fruits are also maroon. Although the individual flowers are minute in size, less than ⅛" (3.2 mm), large patches of sheep sorrel look like a rust-colored haze near the ground.

Edibility: Raw or cooked, small quantities add a tart, lemon-like flavor to salads. Poisonous in large quantities. Contains oxalic acid, which gives the plants a bitter, acidic taste.

Online References:

Missouriplants.com

Illinois Wildflowers

The Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide

Forest and Kim Starr’s Starr Environmental site

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Luirig.altervista.org

EFloras

References:

Newcomb, Lawrence, Morrison, Gordon (Illus.), Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, Little, Brown and Company, 1977, p. 402

5/23/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm)

5/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 15 × 10" (39 × 26 cm)

6/13/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

5/17/2016 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

6/5/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 9" (18 × 21 cm) ID is uncertain

6/13/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

5/4/2012 · Willard Brook State Park, Blue Trail, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 10" (18 × 25 cm)

6/5/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 9" (16 × 23 cm)

6/20/2021 · Highland Green, Topsham, Maine
≈ 3½ × 5" (9.4 × 13 cm)

Rumex acetosella description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 5 Oct 2021.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

5/15/1979 · Virginia · By Tim Chandler

6/5/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 9" (16 × 23 cm)

6/16/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain

5/13/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 15 cm)

6/2/2016 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts

5/17/2016 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

5/17/2016 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell

6/7/2017 · Burns Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Burns/Holland Farm, Milford, New Hamp­shire
≈ 7 × 4½" (18 × 12 cm)

5/30/2014 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 5" (9.5 × 13 cm)

6/20/2021 · Highland Green, Topsham, Maine
≈ 4 × 6" (10 × 16 cm)

6/8/2012 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4 × 5" (10 × 13 cm)

6/1/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 21 × 14" (52 × 34 cm) ID is uncertain

Range:

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