Rumex acetosella

Rumex acetosella

Sheeps Sorrel, red sorrel, field sorrel or sour weed (Rumex acetosella L.) is a herbaceous species belonging to the Polygonaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota Domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Subarign Tracheobionta,
Magnoliophyta Division,
Magnoliopsida class,
Subclass Caryophyllidae,
Polygonales Order,
Polygonaceae family,
Genus Rumex,
Species R. acetosella.
The terms are synonymous:
– Acetosa acetosella (L.) Mill.;
– Acetosa acetoselloides (Balansa) Holub;
– Acetosa hastata Moench;
– Acetosa repens Gray;
– Acetosa sterilis Mill.;
– Acetosella angiocarpa (Murb.) Á.Löve & D.Löve;
– Acetosella multifida tenuifolia (Wallr.) Kubát;
– Acetosella multifida vulgaris (Fourr.) Kubát;
– Acetosella pyrenaica (Lapeyr.) Á.Löve & D.Löve;
– Acetosella vulgaris (W.D.J.Koch) Fourr.;
– Acetosella vulgaris tenuifolia (Wallr.) P.D.Sell;
– Lapathum acetosella (L.) Scop.;
– Lapathum arvense Lam.;
– Pauladolfia acetosella (L.) Börner;
– Rumex acetosella tenuifolius Wallr.;
– Rumex acetoselloides Balansa;
– Rumex angiocarpus Murb.;
– Rumex arvensis Dulac;
– Rumex australis (Willk.) A. ernandez;
– Rumex falcarius Willd. ex Ledeb.;
– Rumex fascilobus Klokov;
– Rumex pyrenaica Lapeyr.;
– Rumex tenuifolius (Wallr.) Á.Löve.
Within this species, the following subspecies and forms are recognized:
– Rumex acetosella subsp. acetosella;
– Rumex acetosella subsp. acetoselloides (Balansa) Den Nijs;
– Rumex acetosella subsp. arenicola Y.Mäkinen ex Elven;
– Rumex acetosella subsp. multifidus (L.) Schübl. & G.Martens;
– Rumex acetosella subsp. multifidus Linnaeus, 1762;
– Rumex acetosella subsp. pyrenaica (Pourr. ex Lapeyr.) Akeroyd;
– Rumex acetosella subsp. tenuifolius (Wallr.) O.Schwarz;
– Rumex acetosella f. tenuifolius Wallr., 1822.

Etymology –
The term Rumex comes from rumex javelin, spear: due to the pointed shape of the leaves of many species of this genus. Already in Plautus and others with the meaning of romice.
The specific epithet sorrel is the diminutive of acetosus sorrel, acid: acidulous.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Rumex acetosella is a dioecious plant native to Eurasia and the British Isles, from Iceland and the Atlantic coast of Europe, east to the Russian Far East, Japan, Korea and China and with the presence of subspecies with different diffusion.
This plant has also been introduced to most of the rest of the Northern Hemisphere.
In Italy it is present in all regions with three subspecies.
Its common habitat is that of acidic and sandy soils in moors and meadows. It is often one of the first species to take hold in disturbed areas, such as abandoned mining sites, especially if the soil is acidic, from sea level to the subalpine belt. Furthermore, it has been found that in the first succession habitats there are relatively more female plants, while in the later stages of succession male plants are more common.

Description –
Sheeps Sorrel is a dioecious perennial herbaceous plant, which has a slender and reddish erect stem, which grows from a rhizome, and which is branched in the upper part, reaching a height of 50 cm.
The leaves are green, arrow-shaped, small, about 2.4–5 cm long and 0.5–2 cm broad, with pointed lobes at the base.
The male flowers are yellowish-green, while the female ones are reddish and develop on separate plants at the apex of the stem.
The flowering period is from March to November depending also on the latitude and altitude where it grows.
The fruit is a diclesium with 3 valves, which surround the achenium, consisting of increasing pieces of the internal whorl of the perianth, as large or slightly more than the linear or claviform achenium which measures 1.2-1.7 x 0.8- 1.5.

Cultivation –
Rumex acetosella is a plant considered in some areas as a weed and noxious herb.
This plant grows in meadows, clearings, dry and sandy uncultivated fields, on mainly siliceous substrates.
However, this plant has long been harvested in its natural state for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.
It is an easy to cultivate plant which prefers, however, a moderately fertile moist soil that is well drained and in a sunny position; moreover, although it is a plant with acid soils, it can tolerate a certain alkalinity.
This plant, being pollinated by the wind, easily hybridizes, especially with other members of the genus with which it is more closely related.
Furthermore, being a dioecious species, if seeds are to be obtained, both the male and female forms must be cultivated.
The plant propagates both by seed, with autumn or spring sowing in situ or by division in spring.

Customs and Traditions –
Rumex acetosella is a plant that contains vitamin C, potassium oxalate and oxalic acid, iron. Oxalates are toxic when ingested in high doses and for prolonged periods of time. The young and fresh leaves are edible both raw and cooked and can be used in the preparation of sour sauces. The juice can be used to get rid of rust.
The leaves, as mentioned, can be eaten raw or cooked and the oxalic acid they contain gives them a slightly tart flavor, with a lemon and spicy taste or a sour taste similar to rhubarb.
This plant has been used locally for various food and medicinal purposes.
As a food use it has been used as a salad garnish, an acid flavoring plant, as a green salad and as a coagulant for milk in cheese production.
The roots are eaten cooked and can be dried and ground into a powder and made into a paste.
The seeds are eaten raw or cooked, they are easy to collect but the seed is quite small and impractical to use.
A drink similar to lemonade (but without the effervescence) is obtained through the boiled leaves.
In the medical field, Rumex acetosella is used as a detoxifying herb; fresh juice from the leaves has a pronounced diuretic effect.
Like other plants in the genus, it is mildly laxative and has potential as a long-term treatment for chronic diseases, particularly those of the gastrointestinal tract.
The plant is also part of a North American formula called essiac which is a popular cancer treatment. Its effectiveness has never been reliably proven or disproved as no controlled studies have been conducted. The other herbs included in the formula are Arctium lappa, Ulmus rubra and Rheum palmatum.
The whole plant, used fresh, is diaphoretic, diuretic and refrigerant.
From the leaves a tea is obtained which is used in the treatment of fevers, inflammation and scurvy.
The juice of the leaves is useful in the treatment of urinary and kidney diseases.
A foliar poultice is applied to tumors, cysts, etc. and it is a popular treatment for cancer.
A tea made from the roots is astringent and is used in the treatment of diarrhea and excessive menstrual bleeding.
Among other uses, it should be remembered that from the roots it is possible to obtain dyes from dark green to brown and dark gray that do not require a mordant.
An extract of the plant is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner and soothing agent.
Among the contraindications and warnings it should also be remembered that this plant can have undesirable effects on the animals that feed on it.
It was the Italian agronomist Nicola Onorati (1764-1822) who first discovered that Rumex acetosella damages the teeth of animals due to the presence of oxalic acid.
Also, as this plant contains quite high levels of oxalic acid, the leaves should not be eaten in large quantities as oxalic acid can block other nutrients in foods, especially calcium, thus causing mineral deficiencies. The oxalic acid content is reduced if the plant is cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should be especially careful if they include this plant in their diet as it can aggravate their condition.

Preparation Method –
Sheeps Sorrel is a plant of which practically everything is used.
The leaves can be used as thickeners in soups, etc. and they can also be dried for later use.
The roots are eaten cooked and can be dried and ground into powder.
The seeds are eaten raw or cooked.
Infusions and teas can be prepared, used for both food and medicinal purposes.
However, particular caution should be made in the use of this plant due to the high content of oxalic acid, in relation to what has been said previously.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.
Photo source:
– https://cyberfloralouisiana.com/images/LSUCollections/Vascular/LSU/00/203/LSU00203793_L.JPG

Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore no responsibility is taken for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.