Sorrel
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- This article is about the sorrel plant. For information about horses, see sorrel (horse).
Sorrel (sometimes "common sorrel," to distinguish it from a number of unrelated plants also known as "sorrel" of one kind or another), Rumex acetosa, is a pleasantly lemony perennial herb, growing to a height of two or three feet (60 or 90 cm). It has smooth, fleshy and tender leaves, a long slender stalk and a spike of small reddish flowers.
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.
