WOOD SORREL 



29 



Wood Sorrel is known by many names: Alleluia, Allolida, Bird's 

 Bread-and-Cheese, Bread-and-Cheese, Bird's Clover, Sorrell, Cuckoo's, 

 Gowk's, or Sour Clover, Cuckoo's Bread-and-cheese, Cuckoo-flower, 

 Cuckoo -spice, Cuckoo's Victuals, Sour Grass, Green Sauce, God 

 A'mighty's Bread and Cheese, Gowk Meat, Hallelujah, Hare's Meat, 

 Hearts, Lady's Cakes, Lady's Clover, Lady's Meat, Laverocks, Lu- 

 jula, Rabbit Meat, Sham- 

 rock, Sheep Sorrel, Sleep- 

 ing Beauty, Sleeping 

 Clover, French or Wood 

 Sorrel, Sour Clover, Sour 

 Sals, Stabwort, Stob- 

 wort, Stopwort, Stub- 

 wort, Wood-sour, Wood- 

 sower. 



Wood Sorrel was 

 called Stabwort because 

 it was said to be good for 

 wounds, punctures, stabs, 

 &c., and Stub- wort, from 

 growing at the roots of 

 old trees. The name 

 Alleluia is explained, "By 

 reason when it springeth 

 forth and flowereth Alle- 

 luia was wont to be sung 

 in churches " (i.e. between 

 Easter and Pentecost). 



The name Hearts is 

 from the shape of the 

 leaves. 



The flowers were formerly called fairy bells, and it was thought 

 that the fairies were summoned to their moonlight revels by these 

 bells. Wood Sorrel was called St. Cecilia's Flower, St. Cecilia's Day 

 being celebrated 22nd November, on account of the trumpet-like form 

 of the leaves. Another legend attributes the spotting of the leaves 

 to their being blood-drops from the Cross. 



The foliage is extremely sharp and acid, hence some of its names. 

 It contains a binoxalate of potash. The juice is expressed and 

 evaporates, and the crystals are produced from which we obtain salts 

 of lemon. This is used for removing ink stains. It is poisonous and 



Photo. J. H. Crabtree 



WOOD SORREL (Oxalis Acetosella, L.) 



