Sheep Sorrel, Red Sorrel
Rumex acetosella

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 10-25 cm tall. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a slender but wide-spreading rootstock. It has narrow leaves. They are sword shaped and smooth. The veins run length wise right along the leaf. It has curved, winged ears at the base of the leaf. The leaves are on long stalks. The seeding spikes are slender and yellow-green at first but become reddish-brown. The seeds are small and do not have spines or bristles.

The leaves are rich in Vitamin C. There are about 200 Rumex species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It often grows self sown in poor soils and where there is little competition. Plants on frost prone sites are small. It grows best in open sunny locations. It is frost resistant. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Alaska, Albania, Arctic, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Chile, China, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Estonia, Europe, Falklands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indochina, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, St Helena, Sweden, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are ground into flour to make flat bread. The young leaves can be eaten in salads. They are sour but are chewed to quench thirst. The leaves can be boiled and eaten in small amounts in salads and soups. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat. The leaves are used to curdle sheep's milk in cheese making. The root is also recorded as edible. CAUTION: Because this plant contains oxalates, eating large amounts over time can reduce calcium absorption by the body.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, vegetable, roots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Acedera de lagartija, Acederilla, Acetosella, Aci kulak, Chuk, Chukapalam, Cimentursusu, Eksi kulak, Eksiotu, Epelek, Hapuoblikas, Hommaidat, Ifekroun, Kozya brada, Kuzukulagi, Lhamda, Macris, Mala kislica, Mzhauna, Puka kiwa, Romacilla, Romaza, Smasyre, Taonthao, Tirso, Tirsok, Trtnjuk, Vinagrillo

Synonyms

Acetosa acetosella Mill.; Acetosa arvensis Montandon; Acetosa hastata Moench; Acetosa multifida Chaz.; Acetosa parva Gilib.; Acetosa repens Gray; Acetosa sterilis Mill.; Acetosella acetosella (L.) Small; Acetosella multifida (L.) Á. Löve; Acetosella multifida subsp. angiocarpa (Murb.) Kubát; Acetosella multifida subsp. australis (Willk.) Kubát; Acetosella multifida subsp. tenuifolia (Wallr.) Kubát; Acetosella multifida subsp. vulgaris (Fourr.) Kubát; Acetosella tenuifolia (Wallr.) Á. Löve [Illegitimate]; Acetosella vulgaris (W.D.J.Koch) Fourr.; Acetosella vulgaris f. integrifolia (Wallr.) Dostál; Acetosella vulgaris f. multifida (L.) Dostál; Lapathum acetosella Scop.; Lapathum arvense Lam.; Pauladolphia acetosella Börner; Rumex acetosella subsp. acetosella; Rumex acetosella var. acetosella; Rumex acetosella f. acetosella; Rumex acetosella var. multifidus (L.) DC.; Rumex acetosella var. tenuifolius Wallr.; Rumex acetosella subsp. tenuifolius O. Schwarz; Rumex acetosella var. vulgaris W. D. J .Koch; Rumex arvensis (Lam.) Dulac; Rumex fascilobus Klokov; Rumex multifidus L.; Rumex tenuifolius (Wallr.) Á.Löve;