Sorrel
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- This article is about the sorrel plant. For information about horses, see sorrel (horse).
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Rumex acetosa cultivar | ||||||||||||||
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| Rumex acetosa |
The Common Sorrel (rumex acetosa), also known as spinach dock is a perennial herb, which grows abundantly in meadows in most parts of Europe. It is a slender plant about 60cm high, with juicy stems and leaves, and whorled spikes of reddish-green flowers, which bloom in June and July. The leaves are oblong, the lower ones 7 to 15cm in length, slightly arrow-shaped at the base, with very long petioles. The upper ones are sessile, and frequently become crimson.
As the flowers increase in size, they become a purplish colour. The stamens and pistils are on different plants. The seeds, when ripe, are brown and shining. The perennial roots run deeply into the ground.
Common sorrel has been cultivated for centuries, although its popularity has decreased considerably. Because of the mildly acidic taste, it quenches thirst, and may be helpful in boosting the appetite. The leaves are edible and may be added to salads to sharpen the taste. They are often pureed in soups and sauces. The plant contains oxalic acid to produce its characteristic flavor, and so may be contraindicated in people with rheumatic-type complaints, kidney or bladder stones, and the like. It is also a laxative.
Classification: Sorrel is a member of the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae.
de:Wiesen-Sauerampfer
nl:Veldzuring
