Rumex acetosa - Sorrel

Family:	Polygonaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.6
Width:	0.3
Synonyms:
Range:	Most of Europe, including Britain, temperate Asia, N. America, Greenland.

Rumex acetosa (Sorrel) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.6m and a width of 0.3m . It has a hardness rating of 3and is vunerable to frost.
Sorrel will flower in November to December. the seeds ripen from December to February
The flowers from this plant are dioecious (each plant is either male or female, thus both genders need to be present to seed) and they are pollinated by Wind

Soil Information

Sorrel will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Sorrel prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Sorrel can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Meadows, by streams and in open places in woodland[7, 17]. Often found as a weed of acid soils[1].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds
• Suits a meadow

Cultivation Details

A very easily grown and tolerant plant, it succeeds in most soils[37], preferring a moist moderately fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position[200]. Shade tolerant[12]. Established plants are tolerant of considerable neglect, surviving even in dense weed growth[K]. Sorrel has been used since ancient times as a food and medicinal plant[244]. It is still occasionally cultivated for its edible leaves, there are some named varieties[183]. The plant stops producing leaves when it flowers in the summer, regrowing after the seed has set. Plants also usually die down in the winter. Cutting down the flowering stem will encourage the growth of fresh young leaves[4]. 'Blonde de Lyon' has large, only slightly acid leaves and is much less likely to flower than the type[200]. This means that the leaves of this cultivar are often available all through the summer and are often also produced throughout the winter, especially if the winter is mild[200, K]. A food plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterfly, it is a good plant to grow in the spring meadow[24]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 5/5
Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 4, 5, 7, 13, 27]. They make a thirst-quenching on their own, or can be added to salads, used as a potherb or pureed and used in soups[183]. A delicious lemon-like flavour, liked by most people who try them, they can be rather overpowering in quantity and are more generally used as a flavouring in mixed salads[K]. The leaves can also be dried for later use[12]. The leaves can be available all through the winter, especially in mild weather or if a little protection is given to the plants[K]. The leaves should be used sparingly in the diet[9, 21], see the notes on toxicity above. Flowers - cooked as a vegetable or used as a garnish[183]. Root - cooked. It is dried, ground into a powder and made into noodles[105]. Seed - raw or cooked[172]. Ground into a powder and mixed with other flours to make bread[183]. The seed is easy to harvest, but is rather small and fiddly to use[K]. The juice of the leaves can be used as a curdling agent for milks[4, 183].

• Curdling agent - used to curdle soya milk in making cheese.
• Flowers -
• Leaves -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 3/5
The fresh or dried leaves are astringent, diuretic, laxative and refrigerant[4, 7, 14, 21, 238]. They are used to make a cooling drink in the treatment of fevers and are especially useful in the treatment of scurvy[4]. The leaf juice, mixed with fumitory, has been used as a cure for itchy skin and ringworm[4]. An infusion of the root is astringent, diuretic and haemostatic[4, 7, 14, 21, 218]. It has been used in the treatment of jaundice, gravel and kidney stones[4]. Both the roots and the seeds have been used to stem haemorrhages[4]. A paste of the root is applied to set dislocated bones[272]. The plant is depurative and stomachic[7, 14, 21, 218]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[9]. It is used in the treatment of spasms and skin ailments[9].

• Anthelmintic - Expels parasites from the gut.
• Antiscorbutic - A plant rich in vitamin C that is used to counteract scurvy.
• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Depurative - Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Febrifuge - Reduces fevers.
• Homeopathy - A plant used in homeopathic treatments.
• Laxative - Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner.
• Refrigerant - Cools the body.
• Stomachic - Aids and improves the action of the stomach.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in situ. Leaves can be harvested within 8 weeks from sowing. Division in spring. Division is very simple at almost any time of the year, though the plants establish more rapidly in the spring. Use a sharp spade or knife to divide the rootstock, ensuring that there is at least one growth bud on each section of root. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Known Hazards

Plants can contain quite high levels of oxalic acid, which is what gives the leaves of many members of this genus an acid-lemon flavour. Perfectly alright in small quantities, the leaves should not be eaten in large amounts since the oxalic acid can lock-up other nutrients in the food, especially calcium, thus causing mineral deficiencies. The oxalic acid content will be reduced if the plant is cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[238].

Other Uses

Dark green to brown and dark grey dyes can be obtained from the roots, they do not need a mordant[168]. A grey-blue dye is obtained from the leaves and stems[106]. An infusion of the stems is used as a polish for bamboo and wicker furniture and also for silver[53, 238]. The juice of the plant removes stains from linen[14] and also ink stains (but not ball-point ink) from white material[53, 238]. It is sometimes sold as 'essential salt of lemon'[4].

• Cleanser - For various materials. Perhaps best included under separate headings.
• Dye - Plants that provide dyes.
• Polish - Plants used to give a shine to metals, wood etc.

Cultivars

'Belleville' - Large pale-green leaves to 8cm long[183]. A small French cultivar that is hardy, fast growing and well-proven to be productive under almost any condition[183].
'Blonde de Lyon' - This form has large, thick, only slightly acid leaves and is much less likely to flower than the type[183, 200]. A tender and mild flavour[183]. The leaves of this cultivar are often available all through the winter, especially if the winter is mild[200].
'Gourmet Brand Verte' - Produces large rosettes of tangy foliage. Excellent for spring salads or an early spring cream of sorrel soup[183]. A cold-tolerant form that is ideal for very early spring and very late autumn crops[183].
'Larghe Foglie Blonde' - Large pale green leaves that are delicious in salads[183]. It is usually harvested by stripping off the outer leaves, and is not adaptable to cut and come again techniques[183]. Plants will last 3 - 4 years before requiring division[183].
'Low Oxalic Acid' - A highly refined selection, bred for low oxalic acid content[183]. The flavour is only slightly sour[183].
'Nobel' - The leaves are larger, broader and more succulent than other cultivars[183].
'Pallagi Nagylevelü' - An improved form developed in Eastern Europe[183].
'Polish variety' - This is a form given to us by a Polish person on the allotment in London. It rarely ever flowers and usually provides fresh leaves for most of the year. It is possible that our plant is the cultivar 'Blonde de Lyon'.

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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