Found everywhere in impoverished soil during May and June.

Many slender, leafy stems from 6 to 12 inches in height, and bearing flowers terminally, spring from a foot-tuffet of leaves.

The lower leaves are pointed, with long and flaring wing-like bases (“halberd-shape”); they are set on long grooved stems; the upper leaves are similar in shape, or Jack the winged bases, and are set on short stems. Their margins are entire and their texture is thick, juicy, and porous, with a smooth surface; gray-green in color. They are acid to the taste.

The very tiny flower has 6 petal-like parts, and many stamens, and is in color a bright yellow-green, turning to reddish- or crimson-tawny. The flowers are arranged irregularly on branching stems in a feathery spire.

Spreading by underground runners, the Red Sorrel colors the dry fields of early summer with its rich hues, and children love its fresh leaves for their tart flavor; but few give its feathery plumes their meed of praise, since it is nothing more than “a common weed.”