Rumex acetosa

Scientific description

Rumex acetosa – Meadowsweet / Sorrel

Division: Angiospermatophyta (Magnoliophyta)
Class: Dicotyledonatae (Magnoliatae)
Subclass: Caryophyllidae
Order: Polygonales
Family: Polygonaceae
Origin: Native to temperate, hilly mountain regions of Europe

Description:
Herbaceous, perennial, dioecious plant. Thick pivoting root. Stem straight, ridged. Basal leaves elongated, long petiolate; stem leaves sessile. Inflorescences elongated, lax, simple or branched. Flowers unisexual, in whorls, spaced along panicle branches. Blooms late May. Fruit a nut, single dark brown seed, triadic in shape.

Propagation: By seed at physiological maturity.

Ecology:
Common spontaneous species, grows in meadows and glades, from plains to subalpine regions. Prefers semi-wet, damp places, frost resistant.

Use:
Edible: young leaves in salads, sour taste, rich in vitamins, iron, oxalates. Leaves eaten by animals. Root sweet-sour, eaten raw or as decoction. Medicinal value: treatment of skin diseases, tumors. High oxalic acid content – contraindicated in rheumatism or kidney disease. Can be cultivated in gardens.

Danger:
Overharvesting has caused local disappearance in some areas.

Creative writing inspired by Rumex acetosa

Written by Matei Riana-Alexandra

Where Sorrel Grows

In ancient times, when the earth still spoke to people, sorrel was known as the “herb of longing.” Legend tells of two young lovers from a mountain village, separated by war. Before the boy left, the girl gave him a bundle of green, tangy leaves: “Never forget the taste of our love,” she whispered. He carried them with him across mountains and battlefields, the sharp taste always reminding him of her and the springs they shared.

Years passed, and the girl planted sorrel all around her garden, hoping its scent would guide him home. One May morning, the story says, the young man emerged from the mist, led by the tangy aroma hanging in the air. They reunited in a field full of green leaves, and sorrel became a symbol of reunion and undying memory.

Since then, people gather sorrel not only for its refreshing taste, but for the tale it carries. It is said that if you eat it while thinking of someone dear, they will dream of you that night. And if you plant it near your home, it brings luck and keeps soul bonds alive. With its slightly sour flavor, sorrel holds within it the essence of patient love and hope that never fades.

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Authentic Specimen