Oxalis valdiviensis
Oxalis valdiviensis
Safety & 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[1].
Cultivation Details
Oxalis valdiviensis is not a very cold-hardy species, being able to tolerate short periods where temperatures fall to around -5°c when it is dormant. It is not very tolerant of snow[2]. Found wild in Chile in regions where the mean annual rainfall is around 400 - 800mm, with most of it falling in the cool season[2]. Prefers a sunny position but accepting light shade[2]. Easily grown in a sandy soil in a warm dry position. Plants are moderately tolerant of drought, growing wild in areas with a dry season lasting 3 - 5 months[2].
Propagation
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. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Oxalis+valdiviensis>
Pollinators
Insects
References
- [1]Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. — Bown. D. · Dorling Kindersley, London. · 1995 · ISBN 0-7513-020-31 ↩︎A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
- [2]ChileFlora — http://www.chileflora.com/index.html ↩︎Not realy a flora, but a lovely site with lots of helpful information for the gardener and an abundance of excellent photos covering over 2,000 species of Chilean plants.
- [3]Los nombres vulgares de las Plants Silvestres de Chile i su concordancia con los nombres cientificos — Victor Manuel Baeza · 1920 ↩︎A list of Chilean common names, listing the botanical name, a brief description and, often, a list of uses.