A herb with long tapering leaves that are edible in small amounts, but have a sour, sharp flavour (indeed the name 'sorrel' derives from Old French for 'sour') for which reason it is sometimes used as a spice. After Bilbo and the Dwarves escaped from the Goblins of the Misty Mountains, they were forced to march on without their captured provisions. Bilbo found wild sorrel growing in the eastern foothills of the Mountains, and tried a bite or two, but it did little to help his hunger.