Species: Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
Family: Docks (POLYGONACEAE)
Category: Flowering Plants
Location: NW
A. Flowering Plants
More extensive information on flowering plants can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Docks (POLYGONACEAE)
This large family has many familiar members with swollen stem nodes; hence the alternative name knotweeds. There is a characteristic sheath at the leaf base forming a tube around the stem, the ochrea.
C. Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
This native dock is edible, if somewhat bitter. Its red flowers appear from May. Pick the young leaves from February to May, for later they become too bitter. The chopped leaves may be used in salads and also in sauces for red meats such as lamb and beef. They may also be added to omelette mixtures. Steam the leaves and eat with fish, lamb, veal, goose or pork. Sorrel is a diuretic and also good for scurvy. Its cooling effect makes it useful for febrile disorders. The root and seeds are astringent.
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Common Sorrel
Common Sorrel is a native dock that is edible, if somewhat bitter. Its red flowers appear from May.
Common Sorrel
Its red flowers of Common Sorrel appear from May.
