What is "red sorrel"

Sorrel \Sor"rel\, n. [F. surelle, fr. sur sour, fr. OHG. s?r sour. See Sour.] (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.)

1. A malvaceous plant ( Hibiscus Sabdariffa) whose acid calyxes and capsules are used in the West Indies for making tarts and acid drinks.

2. 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.

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]