Sor·rel, n. Bot. One of various plants having a sour juice; especially, a plant of the genus Rumex, as Rumex Acetosa, Rumex Acetosella, etc.
Mountain sorrel. Bot. See under Mountain.
Red sorrel. Bot. (a) A malvaceous plant (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) whose acid calyxes and capsules are used in the West Indies for making tarts and acid drinks. (b) A troublesome weed (Rumex Acetosella), also called sheep sorrel.
Salt of sorrel Chem., binoxalate of potassa; -- so called because obtained from the juice of Rumex Acetosella, or Rumex Axetosa.
Sorrel tree Bot., a small ericaceous tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) whose leaves resemble those of the peach and have a sour taste. It is common along the Alleghanies. Called also sourwood.
Wood sorrel Bot., any plant of the genus Oxalis.
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red sorrel
n : East Indian sparsely prickly annual herb or perennial
subshrub widely cultivated for its fleshy calyxes used in
tarts and jelly and for its bast fiber [syn: roselle, rozelle,
sorrel, Jamaica sorrel, Hibiscus sabdariffa]