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).

References:

Cooper, M. R., Johnson, A. W. 1984. Poisonous plants in Britain and their effects on animals and man. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, England. 305 pp.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Rumex acetosella L.

Vernacular name(s): sheep sorrel

Scientific family name: Polygonaceae

Vernacular family name: buckwheat

Go to ITIS*^ca for more taxonomic information on: Rumex acetosella

References:

Agriculture Quebec. 1975. Noms des maladies des plantes du Canada/ Names of plant diseases in Canada. , Quebec City, Que., Canada. 288 pp.

Alex, J. F., Cayouette, R., Mulligan, G. A. 1980. Common and botanical names of weeds in Canada/Noms populaire et scientifiques des plantes nuisibles du Canada. Revised. Agric. Can. Publ., Ottawa, Ont., Canada. 132 pp.

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Scoggan, H. J. 1978, 1979. The flora of Canada. Nat. Mus. Nat. Sci. (Ottawa) Publ. Bot. 7(1)-7(4). 1711 pp.

Van Wijk, H. L. 1911. A dictionary of plant names. Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, The Netherlands. 1444 pp.

Victorin, M. 1964. Flore Laurentienne. 2nd ed. Univ. Montreal, Montreal, Que., Canada. 952 pp.

Geographic Information

Alberta
British Columbia
Labrador
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon Territory

References:

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Boivin, B. 1966, 1967. Énumération des plantes du Canada. Provencheria 6. Nat. Can. (Que.) 93: 253-274; 371-437; 583-646; 989-1063. 94: 131-157; 471-528; 625-655.

Image or illustration

sheep sorrel:

Images: images.google.com

Toxic parts:

leaves
stems

References:

Cooper, M. R., Johnson, A. W. 1984. Poisonous plants in Britain and their effects on animals and man. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, England. 305 pp.

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

References:

Cooper, M. R., Johnson, A. W. 1984. Poisonous plants in Britain and their effects on animals and man. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, England. 305 pp.

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).

References:

Cooper, M. R., Johnson, A. W. 1984. Poisonous plants in Britain and their effects on animals and man. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, England. 305 pp.