Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3 Western Australia, Series 3
Volume 6
Number 3 May-June, 1957 Article 6
5-1957
Weeds of Western Australia - Sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.) Weeds of Western Australia - Sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.)
G. R. W. Meadly
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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation
Meadly, G. R. W. (1957) "Weeds of Western Australia - Sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.)," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3: Vol. 6: No. 3, Article 6.
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SORREL
(Rumex acetosella L.)
I n Europe, Sorrel is regarded as an indicator of acid soils and the application of lime is frequently advocated as a control measure. In Western Australia it also grows on sour, poorly drained land but such conditions are by no means essential.
Many seeds are produced, and new plants develop rapidly from small portions of the underground stems.
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By G . R . W . MEADLY M.Sc.
Officer in Charge, Weeds and Seeds Branch
SORREL
(Rumex acetosella L.)
A
LTHOUGH Sorrel or Sheep Sorrel as it is often called is native to Europe and Southern Asia, it is now recorded from many countries in the world and reference is made to it in most books dealing with weeds.In England, it is regarded as being a n indication of poor, sandy soils deficient in lime. In Australia, however, although it is found frequently on soils t h a t are badly drained a n d wet in winter it is by no means confined to them. Our experience indicates t h a t it is capable of thriving on a variety of soil types, but is most con- spicuous on sour soils where it is subjected to little competition from other plants.
The early history of Sorrel in Australia is obscure b u t it now occurs in all States and there is little doubt t h a t it first a p - peared during t h e early days of settle- ment. The seeds are often found as a n impurity in agricultural seeds, particu- larly of European origin a n d no doubt early introductions were made in this manner.
Sorrel is found most frequently in t h e moister p a r t s of the South-West, particu- larly on low lying portions of t h e coastal plain. I t also occurs, however, in t h e drier areas on well drained soils a n d t h e red colouration associated with the prolific flowering and seeding is not uncommon in t h e wheatbelt.
DESCRIPTION
Sorrel is a perennial herb with a creep- ing rhizome a n d slender erect stems 4-18 inches in height, often turning red. The leaves are alternate, t h e lower ones usually dagger-shaped a n d t h e upper ones n a r -
rower, being lance-shaped or even linear.
All are hairless a n d stalked. The stipules
—small structures at t h e base of t h e leaves
—are t h i n a n d papery, usually white or silver in colour a n d forming a ring around the stem. Male a n d female flowers are formed and both are inconspicuous, neither having t h e coloured petals usually associated with floral structures. The female flowers give rise to small, t r i - angular nutlets, each of which contains a single seed of similar shape.
The plant flowers a n d seeds in t h e spring a n d summer.
Sorrel means, "of a reddish brown colour" and t h e n a m e obviously refers to the colouration of t h e stems, flowers and nutlets, a feature most noticeable when the plants are m a t u r i n g under dry con- ditions.
SIGNIFICANCE
Sorrel, like the related docks, h a s a high oxalic acid content which makes it r e - latively unpalatable. It is eaten to a certain extent by stock, however, possibly while grazing other herbage r a t h e r t h a n by choice. I t h a s affected animals, p a r - ticularly breeding ewes, but is seldom r e - garded as having toxic properties.
Although a weed of both pastures a n d crop land, Sorrel is probably most trouble- some in orchards a n d gardens, particu-
293
SORREL (Rumex acetosella L.).
A—Plant showing habit; B—Leaf; C—Male flower; D—Anther; E—Female flower; F—Fruit;
G—Seed; H—Transverse section of seed.
(From a drawing by C. A. Gardner, Government Botanist.)
larly market gardens. Its vigorous peren- nial habit provides strong competition for crop plants but it is affected by shading and the growing of appropriate crop and pasture species is a worthwhile control measure.
CONTROL
Control is made difficult by several features of this tenacious weed. It seeds very freely and the seeds are contained in a protective nutlet, enabling them to retain their vitality in the soil for a long time. Sorrel often appears on clean land following cultivation, the seeds having remained dormant for years until provided with favourable conditions for germina- tion.
The plant itself is a vigorous perennial with an extensively developed under- ground stem and root system, giving rise to surface shoots at intervals. Fragments of these stems or runners are capable of producing new plants, and spasmodic ploughing or cultivation serves to spread rather than control the weed. Stock dis- tribute the plant by passing undigested seeds and it is also spread as an impurity in grass and small clover seeds, especially white and drooping-flowered clover. Seeds do not occur in graded subterranean clover seed but are found in burr and rough samples.
Preventing the weed from becoming established is, of course, preferable to attempting eradication later. Any plants noticed should be forked out and burned, remembering the importance of destroy- the seeds and underground parts. On larger areas the land should be ploughed in the early spring before flowering has occurred, following up with spring-tyne cultivation as often as necessary during the summer. The objective of the repeated
cultivation is to lift the underground stems and expose them to the drying effects of the sun. With the first rains of the following season, oats or some other smothering crop should be sown.
Besides being a large undertaking where extensive areas are involved, from a soil conservation viewpoint summer workings are seldom desirable and this method, therefore, has limitations. Sorrel in market gardens, especially on the coastal sandy soils, can be reduced to very small proportions by regular rotary hoeing dur- ing the spring and summer. If the affected section is treated as a unit there is less risk of carrying the plant to clean portions of the paddock. Summer waterings natur- ally encourage the weed.
Drainage and the use of lime are bene- ficial when warranted by the conditions but, as already pointed out, many affected areas are well drained and not deficient in lime. When practicable, the most economical method of dealing with heavy infestations is to establish and maintain a vigorous pasture. Where possible peren- nial species such as white clover, straw- berry clover and paspalum should be grown but subterranean clover and droop- ing flowered clover are also suitable. Such pastures will not necessarily eliminate the weed but, by competing strongly, will re- duce its significance.
Sorrel is not readily affected by chemi- cals which have a limited use in its con- trol. A 10 per cent, solution (1 lb. per gallon of water) of sodium chlorate applied at the rate of one gallon to 20-30 square yards will dry the plant back to ground level but further growth must be treated as it appears. A similar check can be obtained with a solution containing 2 lb. acid equivalent of 2,4-D ester in 100 gallons of water. Both these treatments affect other plants.
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