garden sorrel

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• garden sorrel
• green sorrel
• meadow sorrel
• sour dock
• Common Sorrel
• sorrel
• sorrel dock

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lapathum acetosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Caryophyllales and the family Polygonaceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Rumex.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Its presence is also documented throughout the landscapes of Finland. Furthermore, the species inhabits the unique environments of the Faroe Islands. Finally, this medicinal plant is widely distributed across Great Britain and Iceland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rumex acetosa is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse landscapes, primarily flourishing within forests, meadows, and mountainous terrains. It exhibits an extensive vertical distribution across varying altitudes, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 4100 m AMSL. With a mean elevational range of approximately 2250 m AMSL, the species demonstrates a significant capacity to inhabit both low-lying temperate zones and high-altitude alpine environments.

Elevational range max:

4100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2250 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, meadows, mountains

Life history

The life history of Rumex acetosa is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil during unfavorable conditions. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage to support its continuous life cycle throughout the year.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rumex acetosa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This plant is a self-supporting species that does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining an independent existence as it is neither a parasite nor an epiphyte, inhabiting terrestrial environments. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a variable height, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.505 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.505 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rumex acetosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy for plants in temperate environments, and it is classified as a non-carnivorous species. Its leaf morphology displays significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, resulting in a mean leaf length of 7.5 cm. The leaf width typically fluctuates between 2 cm and 4 cm, with a recorded mean width of 2 cm. These dimensions contribute to an average leaf size of approximately 20.14928 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 292.06 cm²/g, reflecting its physiological investment in leaf tissue density and surface area for resource acquisition.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

20.14928 cm²

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

292.06 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rumex acetosa is characterized by a sexual reproductive cycle that begins with a flowering period typically spanning from May to July. The plant utilizes an abiotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on the wind for pollination. During the reproductive phase, self-fertilization is present, ensuring seed set even in varying conditions. The resulting fruit is a dry, indehiscent achene with a consistent length of approximately 0.2 cm. The seeds produced within these fruits are quite small, exhibiting a mean seed mass of approximately 0.0746 g (with a range between 0.00032 g and 0.001505 g) and a mean seed volume of 1.15 mm³, ranging from a minimum of 1.1 mm³ to a maximum of 1.2 mm³. Seed dispersal is primarily anemochorous (wind-dispersed), though it also exhibits characteristics of an unspecialized dispersal syndrome. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual reproduction via these wind-pollinated flowers and wind-dispersed achenes the primary method for propagation.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.001505 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0746109723333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.00032 g

Seed volume max:

1.2 mm³

Seed volume mean:

1.15 mm³

Seed volume min:

1.1 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rumex acetosa has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Marine pollution bulletin

Chemicals

Rumex acetosa has 38 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include emodin, ANTHRACENE, Anthraquinones, Ash, CALCIUM.

emodin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

ANTHRACENE

1. Dr. Duke

Anthraquinones

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CATECHIN

1. Journal of separation science

CHRYSOPHANIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

Chrysophanol

1. Dr. Duke

Chrysophanol anthrone

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Rumex acetosa has 455 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihypertensive, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor.

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AGEs-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidifier

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Rumex acetosa has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include HeLa cells, Necrosis, antihypertensive, arteriosclerosis, cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations