Herb Identification
There's a delicious, lemony mystery herb/green in the garden I'm tending. I *love* it. Just eating the leaves alone is satisfying, but as part of a salad, it adds just the right zing. The only problem is none of us know what it is! It's not lemon balm or lemon basil. It's not traditional sorrel although there can be other varieties. So, what do you think? What's our mystery herb?
10 comments:
Lemon verbena.
The picture at the bottom of this page makes me fairly certain that you have French Sorrel (Rumex scutatus).
I do not know what it is but is not verbena. Lemon verbena has a slim long leaf.
some other culinary lemon herbs are Lemon Monarda, Lemon Catmint, lemon Mint and lemon scented geranium...could it be of the catmint variety??? It sort of has leaves shaped like catmint.
I think it is French sorrel as well since it is said to have a lemony flavor and leaves akin to lettuce. Other possibilities: Lemon catmint, Lemon Monarda, lemon mint
looks like garden sorrel (rumex acetosa) to me.
It is Rumex scutatus- any of the mints including catmint have squared stems- which makes mint ID fairly easy.
I love my readers. So, we think it's French sorrel instead of Garden sorrel? (Either way, I call it lemony goodness and found a pesto recipe to make with it and mix with basil.)
Garden or common sorrel (acetosa) has longer leaves than Buckler (aka French- although that is confusing since "French" is used for both sometimes)(scatatus) sorrel-http://www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/herbs/Rumex_acetosa.html
http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_sorrel_french.htm
Cool site giving the characteristics of each- the uses (aside from being tasty!)
Have fun with the free find in your garden, it will likely come back every year.
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