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Rumex acetosella
  • Sheeps Sorrel

a perennial member of the Rumex genus in the family Polygonaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • very acid,acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Rumex acetosella has 0 edible uses listed
Rumex acetosella has 0 material uses listed
Rumex acetosella has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

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[1].

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves - raw or cooked[2][3][4][5][6]. A delicious lemon-like flavour, most people consider them too strong to use in quantity, but they are excellent as a flavouring in mixed salads[K]. The leaves should only be used in small quantities due to the oxalic acid content. The leaves can be used as thickeners in soups etc[7], they can also be dried for later use[3].

Root - cooked. It can be dried, ground into a powder and made into noodles[8]. Seed - raw or cooked[9]. Easy to harvest, but the seed is rather small and fiddly to use[K].

A drink similar to lemonade (but without the fizz) is made by boiling up the leaves[7].

Unknown part

Drink

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

Dark green to brown and dark grey dyes can be obtained from the roots, they do not need a mordant[10].

Unknown part

Dye

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Sheep's sorrel is a detoxifying herb, the fresh juice of the leaves having a pronounced diuretic effect[11]. Like other members of the genus, it is mildly laxative and holds out potential as a long term treatment for chronic disease, in particular that of the gastro-intestinal tract[11]. The plant is also part of a North American formula called essiac which is a popular treatment for cancer. Its effectiveness has never been reliably proven or disproven since controlled studies have not been carried out. The other herbs included in the formula are Arctium lappa, Ulmus rubra and Rheum palmatum[11].

The whole plant, used in the fresh state, is diaphoretic, diuretic and refrigerant[12]. A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of fevers, inflammation and scurvy[12]. The leaf juice is useful in the treatment of urinary and kidney diseases[2]. A leaf poultice is applied to tumours, cysts etc, and is a folk treatment for cancer[12].

A tea made from the roots is astringent and is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and excessive menstrual bleeding[12].

Unknown part

Astringent
Diuretic
Poultice

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow autumn or spring in situ. Division in spring.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Rumex acetosella. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils[13], preferring a moist moderately fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position[14]. Although a plant of acid soils, it can tolerate some alkalinity[15].

A good food plant for the caterpillars of many species of butterflies[16][17], it grows well in the summer meadow[16].

Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Rumex acetosella. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Rumex acetosella.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Rumex acetosella
Genus
Rumex
Family
Polygonaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Medicinal uses
[11][12][2]
Material uses & Functions
[10]
Botanic
[15]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
  • Maritime exposure
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
vigorous
Mature Size
0.3 x 1 meters
Fertility
self sterile
Pollinators
Wind
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
dioecious

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"image:Ahosuolaheinä (Rumex acetosella).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Ahosuolaheinä (Rumex acetosella).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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References

  1. ? Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.22.3 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.2 Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2 ()
  4. ? 4.04.1 Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health (1973-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.1 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.17.2 Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books ISBN 0-394-72811-4 (1979-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.1 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
  10. ? 10.010.1 Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. ISBN 0-02-544950-8 (1974-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.111.211.3 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.112.212.312.4 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
  13. ? Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. (1878-00-00)
  14. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  15. ? 15.015.1 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)
  16. ? 16.016.1 Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden. ()
  17. ? Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan ISBN 0-330-26642-x (1982-00-00)

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Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Rumex_acetosella&oldid=80468"
Facts about "Rumex acetosella"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyPolygonaceae +
Belongs to genusRumex +
Has binomial nameRumex acetosella +
Has common nameSheeps Sorrel +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partUnknown part +, Leaves +, Root + and Seed +
Has edible useDrink + and Unknown use +
Has environmental toleranceMaritime exposure + and High wind +
Has fertility typeSelf sterile + and Wind +
Has flowers of typeDioecious +
Has growth rateVigorous +
Has hardiness zone5 +
Has imageAhosuolaheinä (Rumex acetosella).jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useDye +
Has mature height0.3 +
Has mature width1 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAstringent +, Diuretic + and Poultice +
Has primary imageAhosuolaheinä (Rumex acetosella).jpg +
Has search namerumex acetosella + and sheeps sorrel +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceVery acid +, Acid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy nameRumex acetosella +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
PFAF toxicity notes migratedNo +
Tolerates maritime exposureYes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Rumex acetosella +, Rumex acetosella +, Rumex acetosella +, Rumex acetosella +, Rumex acetosella +, Rumex acetosella +, Rumex acetosella + and Rumex acetosella +