Oxyria digyna
(L.) Hill
Mountain sorrel
(c) ahmedm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by ahmedm
(c) Zach Coury, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Zach Coury
(c) ahmedm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by ahmedm
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Seeds
The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. They have a pleasingly acidic taste that makes an excellent potherb and a very nice addition to salads. The leaves can also be fermented into a sauerkraut for winter use. Use in moderation.
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant. It grows to 64°-80° north in North America. It grows in Arctic and alpine regions in the Rocky Mountains. In the Himalayas it grows between 2,400-5,000 m altitude. It often grows on the gravel bars of creeks and river valleys. It suits hardiness zones 2-8.
Afghanistan, Alaska, Arctic, Asia, Balkans, Bhutan, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, Central Asia, China, Denmark, Europe, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Himalayas, Iceland, India, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, North America, Northeastern India, Norway, NW India, Pakistan, Russia, Scandinavia, Siberia, Sikkim, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, USA,
How to Identify
A small herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a short rootstock 1 cm thick. It forms clumps. The leaf stems are long. The leaves are kidney-shaped and green and succulent. The leaves are mostly at the base and 2.5-5 cm across. The leaves are often tinted red. The stems have few leaves. The stems are 10-30 cm long and the flowers are green or reddish. They are 2 mm across. The fruit becomes red with papery wings. They are 6 mm across.
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Propagation: Sow seed in spring in a cold frame, barely covering it — germination takes about 2 weeks. Seed sown as soon as it is ripe will germinate within a few days. Prick seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough and plant out into permanent positions in early summer. Division can also be done in spring. Larger divisions can go directly into permanent positions, while smaller divisions are better potted up and grown on in light shade in a cold frame until well established, then planted out in late spring or early summer.
Medicinal Uses
The leaves are rich in vitamin C and have been used to treat scurvy. The plant is regarded as antiscorbutic and astringent. The roots, stems, and leaves are cooked and eaten in the treatment of dysentery.
Other Uses
No other uses are known.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Oxyria digyna (mountain sorrel, wood sorrel, Alpine sorrel or Alpine mountain-sorrel) is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). It is native to arctic regions and mountainous parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
Other Information
The leaves are especially eaten by children.
Notes
It is rich in vitamins A, B and C.
Names & Synonyms
Alpski kislec, Amlu, Boke, Chhoti chukri, Chohahak, Chukru, Chu-Lchum, Chuma-tsi, Chyakulti, Fjellsyre, Huli, Kalashi, Khandui lenbu, Kongolick, Kugylnik, Kungluk, Kungoluk, Kyukyuma, Lamanchu, Lugsho, Nyalowa nyali, Quunarliaraat, Rudjevica, Suchali, Suchli, Youyaha
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