Oxalis stricta, called the common yellow woodsorrel (or simply yellow woodsorrel), common yellow oxalis, upright yellow-sorrel, lemon clover, or more ambiguously and informally "sourgrass", "juicy fruit","sheep weed",[3] or "pickle plant", is a herbaceous plant.[4]
| Oxalis stricta | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Oxalidales |
| Family: | Oxalidaceae |
| Genus: | Oxalis |
| Species: | O. stricta
|
| Binomial name | |
| Oxalis stricta | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Oxalis europaea Jord. | |
Habitat
editO. stricta is native to North America and East Asia and has been introduced elsewhere, especially in Europe.[5]
It tends to grow in woodlands, meadows, and in disturbed areas as both a perennial and annual.[6] and generally requires dry or moist, alkaline soils, preferring sandy and loamy dirt to grow in. It requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor grounds.
Commonly considered a weed of gardens, fields, and lawns, it grows in full sun or shade.
Description
editThe alternate leaves of this plant are divided into three distinctively heart-shaped leaflets (a typical trait of other species of Oxalis) that can grow up to 2 cm wide. These leaves curl up at night (exhibiting nyctinasty), and open in the day to perform photosynthesis.
The flowers of the plant are hermaphroditic, blooming from July to October.
The mature seed capsules open explosively when disturbed (a very similar trait to that of the mature seed capsules or fruits of plants found in the genus Impatiens) and can disperse seeds up to 4 meters (about 13 feet) away.
Erect when young, this plant later becomes decumbent as it lies down, and branches regularly.
It is not to be confused with similar plants in the same genus which are also often referred to as "yellow woodsorrel".
Cultivation
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Culinary uses
editAll parts of the plant are edible,[5] with a distinct tangy flavor (common to all plants in the genus Oxalis). The leaves taste mild, with a similar taste to lemons. Lemon clover is often eaten while hiking or camping. However, it should only be eaten in small quantities, since oxalic acid is an antinutrient and can inhibit the body's absorption of calcium.[7]
The leaves and flowers of the plant are sometimes added to salads for decoration and flavoring. These can also be chewed raw (along with other parts of the plant, but not the root) as a thirst-quencher.[5] The green pods are pleasant raw, having a juicy crisp texture and a tartness similar to rhubarb in flavor.
The leaves can be used to make a flavored drink that is similar in taste to lemonade,[5] and the whole plant can be brewed as herbal tea that has an aroma somewhat like that of cooked green beans.
The juices of the plant have been extracted from its greens as a substitute to common vinegar.
Practical uses
editAn orange dye can be obtained by boiling the whole plant.[5][8]
Medicinal uses
editOxalis stricta contains large amounts of vitamin C[6], and has been used to treat scurvy.[8]
A poultice of the plant has been used to treat swellings.[5]
References
edit- ^ https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.157502/Oxalis_stricta
- ^ "Oxalis stricta L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ "Common Yellow Oxalis (Oxalis stricta)". 2bnthewild.com - Wildflowers of the Southeastern United States. 2001-04-27. Archived from the original on 2023-09-23.
- ^ "Oxalis stricta". robsplants.com. 2004-08-02.
- ^ a b c d e f "Oxalis stricta Yellow Wood Sorrel, Common yellow oxalis, Common Yellow Wood Sorrel, Oxalis PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ a b "Oxalis stricta (Yellow Wood Sorrel)". www.kingdomplantae.net. Archived from the original on 2006-10-02. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ "Oxalis stricta (Yellow Wood Sorrel) - Practical Plants". practicalplants.org. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- ^ a b "Wood Sorrel". Natural Resource Stewardship. Iowa State University. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
External links
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