Rumex acetosella L.
Red sorrel, sheep sorrel, sour weed, field sorrel
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Caryophyllidae Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
Order Caryophyllales Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
Family Polygonaceae Knotweed or smartweed family
Genus Rumex Ancient Latin for “docks or sorrels”
Species acetosella From an old name for plants with acidic leaves
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)
Older scientific names
Acetosella acetosella (L.) Small
Acetosella tenuifolia (Wallr.) A. Löve
Rumex tenuifolius (Wallr.) A. Löve
Acetosella vulgaris Fourr.
Rumex acetosella L. ssp. angiocarpus (Murb.) Murb.
Rumex acetosella L. var. pyrenaeus (Pourr.) Timbal-Lagrave
Rumex acetosella L. var. tenuifolius Wallr.
Rumex angiocarpus Murb.
Acetosella acetosella (L.) Small
Acetosella tenuifolia (Wallr.) A. Löve
Rumex tenuifolius (Wallr.) A. Löve
Acetosella acetosella (L.) Small nom. inval.
Acetosella tenuifolia (Wallr.) Á. Löve
Rumex tenuifolius (Wallr.) Á. Löve
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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