Leaves. At a glance, the sorrels have noticably arrow-shaped leaves. Their leaves are smaller and more narrow than most other docks found here. Common sorrel has downward-pointing basal lobes that always taper to a point.
How can you tell the difference between sorrel and dock?
Sorrels are really just small species of dock and there is no clear, botanical difference between them. Sorrels do tend to have their flowers less clustered or whorled and often carried singly along the branches of the flower spikes.
How do I identify my dock leaves?
How to identify docks? Dock plants form rosettes of large oval green leaves with distinct midribs. Broadleaf dock leaves are flat, while curled dock has curly-edged leaves. Because of its traditional use on nettle stings, the dock leaf is generally well-recognised.
What does sorrel look like?
Sorrel grows as a rosette and the flowers are small, round and red/green/yellow. Large mature sorrel leaves can look a bit like young Lords & Ladies leaves. The sharply pointed “tails” (lobes) of sorrel leaves distinguish it from the rounded lobes of the Lords & Ladies leaves.
What does docks look like?
Docks grow as basal rosettes of foliage in early spring; they are often one of the first greens to emerge. By late spring or early summer, dock produces tall flower stalks that bear copious amounts of seed, which are also edible.
What part of the sorrel do you eat?
Leaves
Both varieties of sorrel pair well with egg dishes, depending on your palate. Leaves of this tender spring green are often used fresh; however, you can also cook them down — this produces leaves similar to the consistency of cooked spinach.
What part of sorrel is edible?
leaves
Yellow wood sorrel is also known as sour grass because its leaves have a mildly sour taste. In fact, every part o this flower, including the leaves, flowers, and seed pods, are edible. Sorrel is a common addition to salads, soups, and sauces and can be used to make tea.
Are all dock leaves edible?
Benefits: Dock leaves can be eaten in salad or soup when very young – before they get too bitter. They contain high levels of oxalic acid (like spinach, sorrel and parsley).
What are dock leaves good for?
Herbal Medicine Uses of Dock
The leaves are famously used to soothe nettle stings and often grow nearby the offending plant. The cooling properties were also used to soothe insect bites and stings, as well as scalds, blisters and sprains. They were a popular remedy for staunching bleeding or for purifying the blood.
Are dock and burdock the same thing?
Most people can recognise a dock leaf from childhood when they used it to rub on a nettle sting and burdock leaves tend to be relatively wide and are hairy. All of the leaves above are a slightly different colour and texture.
Does sorrel come back every year?
Two perennial herbs that I wouldn’t be without are lovage and sorrel. They come up every year, survive on little attention, and are among the first plants to provide fresh green leaves in spring. They also pack powerful flavors. Lovage is tangy and pungent, like celery but richer and stronger.
Is sorrel poisonous?
Common sorrel has been cultivated for centuries. The leaves are edible when young but toughen with age; they may be puréed in soups and sauces or added to salad. The plant has a distinct sharp, sour taste. It contains oxalic acid, which can be poisonous in high quantities.
Can you eat sorrel raw?
You can also use raw sorrel leaves like you would an herb: chopped up and added to legumes or eggs, or as an addition to yogurt or sour cream as a refreshing, lemony dip. Cooking reduces sorrel’s oxalic acid content, and it also makes the leaves soft and rich and delicious, like really good spinach.
Are dock leaves invasive?
Broadleaf Dock is a perennial weed that can grow up to six feet high. Broadleaf Dock has been described as an invasive species in both the United States and Europe.
How do I know if I have a bitter dock?
Distinguishing Features
This plant is easily recognizable by its broad, oval leaves with cordate bases and rounded tips. Some of the lower leaves have red stems. The edges of the leaves are slightly wavy; and the upper surface is hairless.
Are dock leaves poisonous to dogs?
Dock is a type of plant in the buckwheat family that can potentially be fatal to your dog if he ingests it. If you believe your dog ingested a part of this plant, it needs to be treated as a medical emergency.
What are the side effects of sorrel?
Wood sorrel is UNSAFE, especially when used when used in higher doses. Wood sorrel can cause diarrhea, nausea, increased urination, skin reactions, stomach and intestine irritation, eye damage, and kidney damage. Swelling of the mouth, tongue, and throat can make speaking and breathing difficult.
Is sorrel good for high blood pressure?
Sorrel has antihypertensive properties that help to lower blood pressure. A research done at a university in Boston found that persons who drink a cup of sorrel daily saw a significant reduction in their blood pressure level in 30 days.
Why is my sorrel bitter?
Oxalic acid is responsible for giving red veined sorrel a bitter lemon flavor and in large quantities can cause mineral deficiencies, specifically calcium. Oxalic acid is minimized when cooked. It is suggested that people with pre-existing conditions avoid ingesting.
What does edible sorrel look like?
Edible: Edibility good (see medical notes), taste is excellent. Identification: Sorrel has distinctive arrow-shaped leaves and small red and green flower stalks that appear from May to August. It is an upright plant that grows up to 60 cm in height and later in the season its leaves are sometimes tinged with red.
Is red sorrel poisonous?
The weed is edible, and some people grow it as a green or an herb. The tart flavor is often compared to lemons or sour apples. While the plant is safe for humans, it is toxic to livestock. Red sorrel is an indicator weed and is tolerant of acidic, nutrient deficient soils.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.