Red Sorrel
(Rumex acetosella)
Perennial Broadleaves
Habitat Characteristics
Weed of turfgrass, landscapes, and nursery crops. It is often found on, but not limited to, acid soils and areas with poor drainage, low nitrogen, and little competition from other species.
Identification
This upright weed grows to ½ - 2 feet on somewhat woody stems; branching occurs mostly at the upper parts of the stems. Leaves are arrow shaped with lobes at base of the narrow blades and occur alternately on the hairless stems. The flowers are in loose clusters on the sparsely leaved upper parts of the branching stems. This dioecious plant has red-brown female flowers and yellow-green to red-orange male flowers on separate plants. The seeds are glossy, reddish-brown and triangular in shape. Red sorrel is a perennial weed with creeping roots and rhizomes.
Life History
Reproduction is by seeds and rhizomes. Rhizome buds sprout in early spring and produce basal rosettes. Flowers are produced from May to September. Foliage often turns yellowish in late autumn, but plants typically are green throughout the year.
Management
Cultural Techniques
- Frequent cultivation can control red sorrel
- Hand removal and mowing can control red sorrel
Chemical Techniques
- See weed-herbicide matrix for effective and available herbicides
Web References
USDA – NRCS Plant Profile, Common Sheep Sorrel
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=RUAC3&photoID=ruac3_3v.jpg
University of California IPM, Weed Gallery, Red sorrel
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/red_sorrel.html
Invasive Species, The Source for Information and Images of Invasive & Exotic Species, Common Sheep Sorrel
http://www.invasive.org/browse/subject.cfm?sub=6331
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Common Sheep Sorrel
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/weedguid/sheepsor.htm
Weeds B.C., Sheep Sorrel
http://www.weedsbc.ca/weed_desc/sheep.html
Secondary content using h2 tag. Column 2
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Heading using the h3tag
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.