Practical
Plants

Oxalis montana

Mountain Wood Sorrel

a perennial member of the Oxalis genus in the family Oxalidaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Oxalis
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.1 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

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.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[3].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked[1]. Use in moderation, see notes at top of sheet. Powerfully and most agreeably acid, the leaves can be used to make a conserve, its flavour resembling green tea[2].

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A yellow dye is obtained by boiling the whole plant[4].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - S. Newfoundland and E. Quebec to Manitoba, south to Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Habitat
Damp woods[5].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as 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. 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

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed in most parts of the country. It is likely to prefer a semi-shaded position in a moist light well-drained soil.

References

  1. Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. 1984-00-00 ISBN 0802707699

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  2. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

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  3. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

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  4. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  5. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

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