Sorrel

Mountain sorrel, Oxyria digyna, growing among granite rocks in the Cairngorms, Scotland.

This plant is common in the Arctic tundra regions and also further south in mountain areas like the Alps and the Cascades, as well as the Scottish Highlands, where it is relatively rare.

The plant grows in wet places which are protected by snow in winter, and takes the form of dense tufts with flower-spikes 10 - 20 centimetres tall.

The fleshy leaves of this plant are rich in vitamin C, and are used as a medicinal plant by native peoples in North America to treat scurvy.
They can also be used in salads.

Photographed in Highland Region, Scotland, in June.

Location: Highland Region, Scotland.