Oxalis acetosella
Wood Sorrel
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Oxalidaceae
- Genus
- Oxalis
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 0.08 m
- Spread
- 0.3 m
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies, Self, Cleistogamy
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
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[11].
Edible uses
Leaves - raw or cooked[7][19][2][14]. A delicious lemony flavour, the leaves make a refreshing, thirst-quenching munch and are also added to salads, soups, sauces etc[5]. This leaf should be used in moderation[15][16][21][20], see the notes above on toxicity. Flowers - raw. A decorative addition to salads[K]. The dried plant can be used as a curdling agent for plant milks[18].
- Product or use
- Curdling agent
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
The fresh or dried leaves are anodyne, antiscorbutic, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, febrifuge, irritant and stomachic[15][19][21][10]. A decoction is used in the treatment of fevers, both to quench the thirst and allay the fever[15]. Externally, the leaves are crushed and applied locally to dispel boils and abscesses, they also have an astringent affect on wounds[19]. When used internally, some caution is advised due to the oxalic acid content of the leaves[15], the plant is contra-indicated for people suffering from gastritis or a calculus condition[19].
- Product or use
- Anodyne
- Product or use
- Antiscorbutic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Emmenagogue
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Irritant
- Product or use
- Stomachic
Material uses
The juice of the leaves removes iron mould stains from linen[17][18][1]. Plants can be grown as a ground cover in woodland or under the shade of shrubs[9]. They should be spaced about 45cm apart each way[9].
- Product or use
- Cleanser
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Soil surface
Environment
- Range
- Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain, N. and C. Asia to Japan.
- Habitat
- Moist woods, moorland and on shady rocks[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- permanent shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 3+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cultivation
Prefers moist shady conditions and a humus rich soil in shade or dappled sunlight[15][21][3][12][14][8]. Dislikes very heavy and wet soils[4]. Plants are hardy to about -25°c[6]. A dainty woodland carpeter growing well in a woodland or wild garden[13][8]. When well sited the plants can run aggressively and also self-sow[9]. The plant flowers in early spring, but does not produce much fertile seed at this time. Most of the fertile seed is produced from cleistogamous flowers during the summer[4].
References
Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8
Knight. F. P. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-900629-78-9
Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. 1878-00-00
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5
Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-00-635555-2
Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-946284-51-2
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2