Sorrel

Common Sorrel ( Rumex acetosa )

The Common Sorrel ( Rumex acetosa ), also Big Sorrel or only sorrel, regional ( Saxony) also called Sauerlump, is a plant that belongs to the family of the buckwheat family ( Polygonaceae ). He is as wild vegetables and has been used as a medicinal plant.

Description

The Sorrel grows as a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching heights of growth from 30 to 100 centimeters. As Überdauerungsorgan a rhizome is formed. His bag -shaped leaf sheaths ( Ochrea ) caused by adhesion of the stipules and buds serve as protection.

The flowering period extends from May to August. The Sorrel is dioecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( dioecious ). At leafless Blütenstandsschäften are dierispigen, thyrsenförmigen total inflorescences, consisting of the dichasial wickedest time part inflorescences. The relatively small flowers are red. The inner three tepals are continuing to grow after anthesis and then invest as " Valven " a small walnut fruit.

Ecology and problems in agriculture

The Sorrel loves nutrient -, nitrogen-rich and loamy soils.

In intensive grassland management of sorrel is a problem because its seeds not only survive in the soil for several years, but will be viable in the manure. This allows them to massively spread to congenial locations and displace forage grasses. His fight is a big problem because its up to 1.5 m deep storage roots also remain capable of regeneration in small pieces and form new plants. He is regarded as indicator plant for mainly fertilized by manure grasslands. Here it is undesirable as it can in silage or hay to preserve bad and is shunned by cattle.

The Sorrel is a perennial, usually evergreen semi- rosette plant. Vegetative propagation takes place especially after injury by root sprouts.

Ecologically the flowers Sorrel is wind-pollinated and belongs to the " Langstaubfädigen Type". Female plants have two X chromosomes, males one X and two Y chromosomes. There is a high pollen production instead; per stamen occur 30 000 pollen grains and 300 million per inflorescence.

The Valven, together with an air-containing callus and leaf formation than spread organ. Propagation is carried by the wind and water as Misty, Next door random dispersal by ungulates and floating spread instead. Fruit ripening from June to August. The long-lived seeds are light to germinate.

The Sorrel is a food plant for the caterpillars of the Violet Fire moth, the brown fire butterfly, the little fire butterfly and moth ducats.

The rust fungus Puccinia Phragmitis var Phragmitis, Uromyces acetosae, Puccinia, Uromyces acetosae and rumicis occur on leaves of meadow sorrel. Also, the fungus Peronospora rumicis frequently parasitized on it.

Ingredients and use

The sorrel contains a lot of vitamin C. It can be cooked as a wild vegetable or eaten raw. However, it may come to ample enjoyment of sheets to a pronounced Oxalatvergiftung by the relatively high content of Kaliumhydrogenoxalat, especially in children. Oxalic acid promotes the formation of kidney and bladder stones. Likewise, poisoning is not rare in cattle. Sheep are particularly susceptible, cattle, however, are more resistant.

History and use

Already in ancient times used the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans sorrel, to compensate for an excess fatty foods in their feasts. In the Middle Ages the sorrel was particularly widespread in the British Isles. You wrote him a antipyretic effect. In addition, sorrel was the navigators of the Middle Ages already known as a remedy for scurvy.

Use = use and ingredients with health information

When collecting sorrel is to make sure that he is not from over-fertilized lawns. Should be selected only specimens with unblemished leaves. Older specimens with rust-brown holes in the leaf are particularly unpalatable in greater quantity.

It is similar to sorrel prepare like spinach, and mix it with this, so a little würzigerer taste arises. Even as a salad or in a creamy Ampfersuppe it is used. Particularly well-known and popular is the Ampfersuppe in Belgium and France, but also in Eastern Europe (especially Poland and Lithuania), the soup is very popular. It tastes hot and iced. Young leaves can be cut to salads or be given to sauces and omelettes. Sorrel is one of seven herbs, find the traditional in Frankfurt Green Sauce use.

For digestive complaints sorrel can be taken as a remedy. Although sorrel contains a large amount of iron, it would be preferable to dispense with the pleasure in iron deficiency, because the oxalic acid contained in high concentrations inhibits the absorption of iron.

Cultivation for the use

Meanwhile, the sorrel is also sometimes cultivated in the garden. The seed is then in spring ( mid-March ) on moist soil in rows, later, the young plants are separated by 20 cm. Are picked young, tender leaves.

There is also a Spätsaat in August possible; the harvest begins then in the following year.