Sheep sorrel-Rumex acetosella L.-Poisonous plant

Sheep sorrel

General poisoning notes:

Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella) is a naturalized herb found across Canada. The plant can become abundant in poor disturbed soils. Ingesting large quantities of the plants caused poisoning and death in sheep in other countries (Cooper and Johnson 1984).

Description

Plants perennial, glabrous, with vertical rootstock and/or creeping rhizomes. Stems erect or ascend-ing, several from base, branched in distal 1/ 2 (in inflorescence), 10-40(-45) cm; shoots variable. Leaves: ocrea brownish at base, silvery and lacerated in distal 1/ 2; blade normally obovate-oblong, ovate-lanceolate, lanceolate-elliptic, or lanceolate, occasionally, linear-lanceolate to almost linear, 2-6 × 0.3-2 cm, base hastate (with spreading, entire or sometimes multifid, dissected lobes), occasionally without evident lobes, then base broadly cuneate, margins entire, flat or nearly so, apex acute or obtuse. Inflorescences terminal, usually occupying distal 2- 3 of stem, usually lax and interrupted to top, broadly or narrowly paniculate. Pedicels 1-3 mm. Flowers (3-)5-8(-10) in whorls; inner tepals not or slightly enlarged, normally 1.2-1.7(-2) × 0.5-1.3 mm (free wing absent or barely visible), base cuneate, apex obtuse or subacute. Achenes brown or dark brown, 0.9-1.5 × 0.6-0.9 mm. 2n = 14, 28, 42.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Rumex acetosella L.

Vernacular name(s): sheep sorrel

Scientific family name: Polygonaceae

Vernacular family name: knotweed.

Geographic Information

Alberta, British Columbia, Labrador, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan.

Toxic parts:

Leaves, stems.

Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:

Oxalate crystals are found in sheep sorrel. Under certain circumstances, nitrates can accumulate in sufficient quantity to cause poisoning. If large enough quantities of oxalates are absorbed by ruminants, they combine with blood calcium, forming calcium oxalate and causing calcium deficiency. The crystal can accumulate in the kidneys and brain causing renal failure and nervous disorders (Cooper and Johnson 1984).

Toxic plant chemicals:

Oxalate.

Animals/Human Poisoning:

Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.

Sheep

General symptoms of poisoning:

coma

death

falling down

gait, staggering

muscle spasms

nasal discharge.

Notes on poisoning:

Several sheep in New Zealand were poisoned and died. Symptoms included staggering, nasal discharge, muscular spasms, abnormal breathing, and falling down. In severe cases, coma preceded death. Postmortem findings revealed oxalate crystals and inflammation of the kidneys. Up to 10% of flocks died (Cooper and Johnson 1984).