Sorrell

Sorrel is a rhizomatous, patch forming slender herb with red-brown seed heads that are 100-500 mm tall mainly from August to December. The acid-tasting leaves are arrow-shaped, 2-5 cm long with a pointed tip and two basal lobes. The tiny reddish tinged flowers are arranged in whorls up the slender flower spikes and each flower has small floral segments only 2 mm long. The male and female flowers are on separate plants, the male flowers with 6 stamens and the female flowers with 3 fringed style tips. The nut-like fruit is enclosed between the enlarged inner 3 floral segments. It has annual tops with a perennial, rhizomatous root system