Sheep's Sorrel,Red Sorrel,Sour Weed, and Field Sorrel

Not to be confused with Mountain Sorrel, Wood Sorrel, Alpine Sorrel or Alpine Mountain Sorrel( Oxyria digyna);Rumex acetosella is a species of sorrel, also known as Acetosella vulgaris;  bearing the common names sheep's sorrel, red sorrel, sour weed, and field sorrel. The plant and its subspecies are common perennial weeds. It has green arrowhead-shaped leaves and red-tinted deeply ridged stems, and it sprouts from an aggressive rhizome. The flowers emerge from a tall, upright stem. Female flowers are maroon in colour.

In North America it is a common weed in fields, grasslands, and woodlands. It favours moist soil, so it thrives in floodplains and near marshes. It is often one of the first species to take hold in disturbed areas, such as abandoned mining sites, especially if the soil is acidic.

Livestock will graze on the plant, but it is not considered very nutritious and it contains oxalates which make the plant toxic and block nutrient absorption from other foods, if grazed in large amounts. There are several uses of sheep sorrel in the preparation of food including a garnish, a tart flavouring agent, a salad green, and a curdling agent for cheese. The leaves have a lemony, tangy or nicely tart flavour.

·         Leaves are edible raw

·         Raw leaves may have a bitter taste

·          Not very nutritious to begin with, they are undoubtedly best when first simmered in several changes of water.

©Al (Alex-Alexander) D. Girvan. All rights reserved.