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:

Rumex acetosella on

Rumex acetosella at Illinois Wildflowers

Rumex acetosella on the Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide

Rumex acetosella on Forest and Kim Starr’s Starr Environmental site

Rumex acetosella on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

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

Rumex acetosella on luirig.altervista.org

Rumex acetosella on 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" (15 × 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" (15 × 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 ID is dubious

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 × 15 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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