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Oxalis stricta - L.

Common Name Yellow Wood Sorrel, Common yellow oxalis, Common Yellow Wood Sorrel, Oxalis
Family Oxalidaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards The leaves contain oxalic acid, which gives them their sharp flavour. Perfectly all right in small quantities, the leaves should not be eaten in large amounts since oxalic acid can bind up the body's supply of calcium leading to nutritional deficiency. The quantity of oxalic acid will be reduced if the leaves are cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition[238].
Habitats Dry open soils[43]. Prefers impoverished soils, growing in abandoned fields, roadsides etc[159].
Range Eastern N. America - Nova Scotia to Florida and Texas. E. Asia. A rare introduction in Britain.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Oxalis stricta Yellow Wood Sorrel, Common yellow oxalis, Common Yellow Wood Sorrel, Oxalis


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:SB_Johnny
Oxalis stricta Yellow Wood Sorrel, Common yellow oxalis, Common Yellow Wood Sorrel, Oxalis

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early fall, Late summer, Mid summer, Mid fall. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Oxalis stricta is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) at a fast rate. It is in flower from July to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

O. dillenii.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds; South Wall. In. West Wall. In.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves  Root  Seedpod
Edible Uses: Drink

Leaves - raw or cooked[46, 61, 105]. A nice acid flavour[159], the leaves can also be chewed as a thirst quencher[183]. Use in moderation, see notes at top of sheet, Flowers - raw[105, 161, 183]. Added to salads. Young seedpods - raw[183]. Root[105, 161, 183]. No further details. A lemon-flavoured drink is made from the leaves[159].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Febrifuge  Poultice  Stomachic

An infusion of the plant has been used in the treatment of fevers, stomach cramps and nausea[257]. A poultice of the plant has been used to treat swellings[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

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Other Uses

Dye

A yellow to orange dye can be obtained by boiling up the whole plant[257].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in a sandy soil in a warm dry position[1]. Very closely related to O. corniculata, and seen as no more than a variety of that species by some botanists[266]. This variety differs from O. corniculata by stems erect, not rooting at nodes; branched or not[266]. Special Features: North American native, Invasive, Naturalizing, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have enough seed it can be sown in situ during the spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Hebei Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Jilin Sheng, Liaoning Sheng, Shanxi Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng), Korea, Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu) NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Oxalis acetosellaWood SorrelPerennial0.1 3-7 FLMHFSNM323
Oxalis adenophyllaSauer KleePerennial0.2 4-8  LMHSNM00 
Oxalis articulataPink SorrelPerennial0.2 7-10  LMNM30 
Oxalis barrelieriBarrelier's woodsorrelPerennial0.0 0-0  LMNDM20 
Oxalis bifida Bulb0.3 8-11  LMNDM20 
Oxalis corniculataYellow Sorrel, Creeping woodsorrelAnnual/Perennial0.1 4-8  LMHNDM221
Oxalis corymbosaLilac Oxalis, Pink woodsorrelPerennial0.2 7-10  LMHNDM20 
Oxalis deppeiIron Cross PlantBulb0.3 7-10  LMNM40 
Oxalis enneaphyllaScurvy GrassPerennial0.1 5-9  LMNDM20 
Oxalis europaea Annual/Perennial0.4 -  LMNDM20 
Oxalis exilisLeast Yellow Sorrel, Shady woodsorrelAnnual/Perennial0.1 4-8  LMHNDM22 
Oxalis frutescensShrubby woodsorrelPerennial0.0 0-0  LMNDM20 
Oxalis grandisGreat Yellow WoodsorrelAnnual/Perennial0.2 5-7 FLMHFSM211
Oxalis lasiandra Perennial0.3 8-11  LMSNM00 
Oxalis magellanica Perennial0.0 5-9  LMSNDM20 
Oxalis montanaMountain Wood SorrelPerennial0.1 0-0  LMHSM201
Oxalis oreganaRedwood SorrelPerennial0.2 6-9  LMHFSNM313
Oxalis pes-capraeBermuda ButtercupPerennial0.2 8-11  LMNDM20 
Oxalis tetraphylla Perennial0.1 7-10  LMNDM303
Oxalis triangularisOxalisPerennial0.2 10-11 MLMSNDM30 
Oxalis tuberosaOcaPerennial0.5 6-9  LMNM50 
Oxalis violaceaViolet Wood SorrelBulb0.3 4-8  LMHSNDM31 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

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Botanical References

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Links / References

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Readers comment

Miss Suzanne Lee   Tue Oct 28 01:21:35 2003

We always called it sourgrass, as we found it sour when we chewed it. The flowers and seedpods are especially sour.

Link: cloudnet.com

Marjorie   Mon Nov 28 2005

I would like to know where I could get seed for this plant, for a ground cover and woul need about 2 pounds.

lauren spicer   Sat May 13 2006

this page was very helpful for me to complete what i needed...the only thing i would suggest, that i didnt find was...what kinds of animals/bugs eat sourgrass? Other than that i would reccomend this website to anyone..thanks a ton!!! lauren spicer

Feral   Sat May 24 2008

I'm interested in the edibility of the root. This plant seems to be a close relative of a plant called Oca or Ocu which I found out about in my book of perinnial vegetables. anyone know wbout the root,harvesting it, etc. Thanks, good fortune. -Feral

   Sat Oct 18 2008

This was great! Helped me a lot on my essay! Thanks a lot! Plants for a future rocks!

   Sun Oct 19 2008

Very enteresting THAnks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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