Common oxalis
Oxalis (lat. Oxalis acetosella) is a herbaceous rhizomatous perennial plant of the genus Oxalis (lat. Oxalis), belonging to the Oxalis family of the same name (lat. Oxalidaceae).
On any continent where there are shady and humid forests, there is certainly a Common Oxalis, covering the ground with a continuous carpet of leaves. The delicate leaves of the plant are afraid of the bright sun and darkness, and when encountering them, they certainly fold together, pressing tightly against each other, in order to limit the area of communication with such unpleasant natural phenomena. And only in the shade of forest trees do they feel safe, boldly demonstrating the beauty of their openwork leaves with a pleasant sourness.
What’s in your name
The Latin generic name “Oxalis” means “sorrel”. Therefore, the Russian name of the genus “Kislitsa” is a simple translation from one language to another.
For the specific epithet in Latin “acetosella”, the Google translator produces the word “acidic”, thereby seeming to duplicate the generic name. Literally it turns out – “Acid sorrel”, which is not very pleasant to the ear, and therefore the Russian version of the full name of this species has acquired the following form – “Common sorrel”, which is quite logical and informative.
The ubiquity of the plant is not without its popular names, among which are the following: “Cuckoo’s clover”, since the shape of the leaves of Oxalis is similar to the shape of the leaves of Clover; “Hare cabbage”, apparently, hares were seen eating Oxalis, which is quite likely, because not only humans need vitamins.
Description
A creeping thin rhizome spreads underground, giving life to delicate leaves sitting on long petioles, which are born directly from the rhizome without the usual intermediary for plants in the form of a stem. The petioles rise above the ground to a height of 5 to 12 centimeters.
The leaf located on the petiole consists of three very delicate and soft leaflets, having an obverse heart-shaped shape and a solid edge. The leaves are very sensitive to changes in weather and time of day. If bad weather approaches, the day turns to night, or the bright rays of the sun break through the crown of the trees, the leaves shyly close and droop towards the ground. The presence of oxalic acid in the leaves of Oxalis makes them attractive for use in cooking, although the plant is considered poisonous.
A long bloom of small white-pink flowers with yellow centers occurs in the spring. Slender peduncles, slightly taller than the leaf stalks, bear solitary, miniature, graceful blooms. The flowers are divided into two groups based on pollination method. The first group is pollinated by insects. Since the common wood sorrel’s living conditions are such that pollinating insects are not always available due to humidity and dense tree shade, this cunning plant has developed so-called cleistogamous flowers, which are even smaller than ordinary flowers and pollinate themselves while the flower, like a flower bud, is closed to the outside world.
The five-locular capsule, capable of scattering its ripe seeds over a considerable distance around the plant, is the fruit of the vegetative cycle. Uses
The presence of organic acids, rutin, and carotene in the leaves of wood sorrel makes the plant a healing plant, whose healing properties are widely used in folk medicine.
The juice, decoctions, and infusions of the plant are suitable for medicinal purposes.
Freshly squeezed juice and crushed fresh wood sorrel leaves help neutralize pathogenic microbes in purulent wounds and promote faster healing.
Decoctions and infusions normalize metabolic disorders and improve digestive tract function.
The sour leaves are suitable for consumption in moderation, as large quantities can affect kidney function, and the mild toxicity present in the leaves can become dangerous with increased consumption.
It is used in gardening as a groundcover plant. Common wood sorrel (sorrel)
Common wood sorrel
