What was green sauce?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

June 2, 2003

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Sorrels are herbaceous plants; the common name applies to both Rumex and Oxalis, plants with a sour or acidic taste. Rumex are generally known as docks; Oxalis are commonly called lady's or wood sorrels. In 1597, John Gerard wrote of two wood sorrels which he knew as Oxys alba, the white (Oxalis acetosella Linnaeus), and Oxys lutea, the yellow or creeping (Oxalis corniculata Linnaeus).

Wood Sorrel Photographic Print Harry Fox View Larger
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"Oxys...being a kind of three leafed grasse, is a low and base herbe without stalk; the leaves immediately rising from the root upon short stems...small star-like floures of a white colour, with some brightnes of carnation (pink) dasht over....the whole herbe is in taste like Sorrel...and maketh better greene sauce than any other herbe or Sorrell whatsoever. The second kinde...is very like the former, saving that the floures are of yellow colour...." (The Herbal or General Historie of Plants, 1633 edition)

The Oxys were said "good for a feeble stomacke, and is also eaten of those that are bursten (afflicted with a hernia)." The "greene sauce" mentioned was an herbal remedy made of either dock or wood sorrel mixed with vinegar and sugar. Gerard preferred wood sorrel over dock for the recipe.

Wood Sorrel, Woodland Floor, Spring Photographic Print David Boag View Larger
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"Sorrell du Bois or wood Sorrell stamped and used for greene sauce, is good for them that have sicke and feeble stomackes; for it strengthneth the stomacke, procureth appetites, and of all Sorrel sauces is the best, not onely in vertue, but also in the pleasantnesse of his taste. It is a remedie against...ulcers of the mouth, it quencheth thirst, and cooleth mightily an hot pestilentiall fever, especially being made in a syrrup with sugar."

Den Virtuella Floran has three photographs of Oxalis acetosella taken by Torbjörn Kronestedt and Arne and Anna-Lena Anderberg. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/oxalida/oxali/oxalace.html

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images.

Belles Fleurs de France 2 has a photograph of the purple variety of Oxalis corniculata taken by Erick Dronnet. To view the purple variety, click on the link:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/erick.dronnet/oxalis_corniculata1.htm

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Space 10-12'' apart.

Sagina subulata Zone 4 to 7.

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Phlox subulata

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