Sorrel - Sorrel

A perennial plant of the Polygonaceae family (APG classification: Polygonaceae). It is also called scampo. The rhizome is thick and short. The stem is erect, 50-80 cm tall, cylindrical, and reddish purple. The basal leaves are stalked, oblong, blunt at the tip, and arrowhead-shaped at the base. The stem leaves are alternate, broadly lanceolate, and have a membranous sheath at the base that encases the stem. Dioecious. From May to August, a 15-30 cm long panicle inflorescence is borne at the terminal. There are six perianth segments, the outer three of the perianth of the female flower are everted downward, and the inner three are cordate, becoming significantly larger after flowering. There are three styles, each of which is finely divided into threads. The achene is triangular, black-brown, and shiny. It grows in wet grasslands and is widely distributed from Hokkaido to Kyushu and in the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. The stems and leaves contain oxalic acid and have a sour taste. It is known as an indicator plant for acidic soil. The name means "sour leaves" and the young shoots are edible.

[Junko Kobayashi December 11, 2020]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

タデ科（APG分類：タデ科）の多年草。スカンポともいわれる。根茎は太く、短い。茎は直立し、高さ50～80センチメートル、円柱形で紅紫色を帯びる。根出葉は有柄で長楕円(ちょうだえん)形、先は鈍く、基部は矢じり形。茎葉は互生し、広披針(こうひしん)形、基部は膜質の鞘(さや)状となって茎を抱く。雌雄異株。5～8月、長さ15～30センチメートルの円錐(えんすい)花序を頂生する。花被片(かひへん)は6枚、雌花の花被の外片3枚は下方へ反転し、内片3枚は円心形で花期後著しく大形となる。花柱は3本でそれぞれ糸状に細裂する。痩果(そうか)は三稜(さんりょう)形、黒褐色で光沢がある。湿った草地に多く生え、北海道から九州、および北半球の温帯に広く分布する。茎や葉にシュウ酸を含み、酸味がある。酸性土壌の指標植物として知られる。名は「酸き葉」の意味で、若芽を食用とする。

［小林純子　2020年12月11日］

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