Rumex acetosa - Common Sorrel

Phylum: Magnoliophyta - Class: Equisetopsida - Order: Caryophyllales - Family: Polygonaceae

Description

This tall member of the knotweed (or buckwheat) family, with its long, thin leaves, has an acidic vinegar-like taste. It is dioecious - male and female flowers grown on separate plants; however, there is little visible differents between the plants except for the form of the flowers and, of course, the seeds which occur only on female plants. The plant shown above is female and has already produced seeds - closeup of seeds shown below:

Distribution

This perennial wildflower is common throughout the UK and occurs also in some parts of Ireland.

Flowering times

The flower heads turn from green through orange and red to brown during May, June and July.

Habitat

Roadside verges, wasteland and some riverside margins that have been fenced off to keep cattle and sheep out are ideal habitat for this perennial plant, which also occurs in many permanent pastures.

Similar species

Apart from Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum, the well known Broad-leaved Dock whose leaves are used to aleviate nettle stings, other members of the Knotweed/Buckwheat family include Curled Dock Rumex crispus, French sorrel, a small, slimmer relative of common sorrel, and the invasive alien plant Japanese knotweed.

Etymology

Rumex, the genus name for docks and sorrels, may come from the Latin noun rumex, meaning a dart or a jevelin - a reference ton the narrow pointed leaves. The specific epithet acetosa is a reference to the sour or acidic taste of the leaves.

The pictures shown on this page was taken in June and July in Wales.