Latin Name: Rumex acetosellaCommon Name: Sheep Sorrel
There are two basic types of Sheep Sorrel: Hybrid or Domestic Sheep Sorrel and Wild Sheep Sorrel. There are also two additional varieties of sorrel: Engleman's Sorrel (Rumex hastatulus), very similar but taller, and Green Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) is taller still, with leaves 4” to 6" (10 to 15 cm) long
Wild Sheep Sorrel has tiny leaves which are bitter to
taste. Hybrid Sheep Sorrel has large leaves and is used in garden salads.
Hybrid sheep sorrel should not be used in essiac. Several manufacturers use hybrid sheep sorrel in place of weed version. Hybrid sheep sorrel is still sheep sorrel but it is very weak in comparison to weed sheep sorrel.
Note: The two sheep sorrels have same name but are very different. Legally people using Hybrid sheep sorrel can still call it sheep sorrel and not tell you it is weaker version in their product.
Description: A sour tasting weed with distinctive arrowhead shaped leaves and long, spike-like clusters of tiny, reddish or greenish flowers; male and female flowers are on separate plants
The clusters of tiny reddish flowers and leaves (up to 2 in.) shaped like spear heads characterize sheep sorrel, a perennial weed. Sheep sorrel grows up to one foot in height. Flowers: about 1/12" (2 mm) long, in clusters up to 1/2 length of stem. Calyx 6-parted; petals absent.
Male flowers nodding on short, jointed stalks.
Female flowers with fruit protruding from deciduous sepals.
Leaves: 3/4_2" (2_5 cm) long.
Fruit: seedlike, shiny golden brown.
Height: 6 to 12" (15_30 cm).
This vigorous, perennial weed, with running rootstalks, is especially favored by acid soils low in nutrients. In pure stands flowers are sufficiently showy to be attractive, and bees and small butterflies serve as pollinators. The seeds are eaten by ground feeding songbirds and leaves, or even whole plants, by rabbits and deer.
