HPIPM:Red sorrel

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Caryophyllanae
Order	Caryophyllales
Family	Polygonaceae
Genus	Rumex

Scientific Name

Rumex acetosella

Common Name

red sorrel

Red sorrel (Rumex acetosella)

Compiled by: Jack Stivers, Montana State University, Lake County Extension

and Marjolein Schat, Montana State University from the following sources: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/pnw/pnw446/

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=RUAC3

Esser, Lora L. 1995. Rumex acetosella. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2008, October]

Identification and Life Cycle

Red Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) is a creeping perennial in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). Red sorrel is also known as sheep sorrel, horse sorrel, field sorrel, mountain sorrel, cow sorrel, and sour dock. Above-ground stems often are less than 12 inches tall but can grow up to 2 feet tall with few lateral branches. Lower leaves are somewhat arrowhead shaped with one or two conspicuous basal lobes. The slender leaf stalks have a papery sheath where they attach to the stem. Both the stems and leaves are acrid tasting, resembling rhubarb, which also is in the buckwheat family. Male and female flowers are produced on different plants, which bear the flowers in branched clusters at the top. Yellow-orange flowers produce large quantities of pollen. Red-orange female flowers blossom from May to September producing small, three-angle fruits enclosed in reddish, persistent flower parts. The triangular seeds are a polished mahogany color.

Habitats

While it apparently thrives on acid soils with low fertility, red sorrel is adapted to other soil conditions. It occurs in lawns, fields, gardens, along roadsides, grasslands, mixed grass prairies, and in burn areas.

Impacts

Red sorrel is especially unwelcome in fields of clover grown for seed because the red sorrel seeds are difficult, if not impossible, for commercial seed cleaners to separate from clover seed. It is also a serious weed in pastures and rangelands.

Biology and Ecology

Red sorrel reproduces by seed and creeping roots and rhizomes. It is wind pollinated and seed is dispersed by wind and insects. Red sorrel regularly colonizes from buried seed following disturbance. Shoots develop from stem buds that arise adventitiously at irregular intervals on horizontal roots. Adventitious buds are usually found in the top 8 inches of soil.

Management Approaches

Control is difficult because of its perennial, creeping rhizomes.

Biological Control

There are no biological control agents currently available for red sorrel.

Mechanical and Cultural Control

Control red sorrel in pastures or perennial crops by shifting to annual crops that require or accommodate tillage. Cultivation must be at short intervals to deplete root reserves, but plants must be allowed time to produce 2 or 3 inches of green tissue between cultivations for maximum depletion of reserves. Liming and nitrogen fertilization to increase soil pH and enhance other plant growth where practical may reduce red sorrel infestation. Remove small patches of red sorrel from gardens and flower beds by aggressively digging with a shovel or potato fork to expose and remove the rhizomes.

Chemical Control

In non-crop areas or in grass crops, several herbicides can selectively control red sorrel. Selective control in broadleaf crops or pasture crops with legumes is more difficult. Repeated applications may be necessary in any situation

Examples of herbicides that can be used to manage red sorrel

Consult herbicide labels for additional rate, application, and safety information. Additional herbicide information can be found at http://www.greenbook.net.

Due to constantly changing labels, laws and regulations, the sponsors of this web site assume no liability for the suggested use of any chemicals noted in the management section. Contact your local pest management personnel for current information on labeled pesticides that can be used for the intended plant disease, insect pest or weed.

References

For more information and images please visit IPM Bugwood. http://www.ipmimages.org/search/action.cfm?q=rumex%20acetosella&Start=1&results=42