Oxalis corniculata
Oxalis corniculata
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[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description 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. ].
Botanical Description
Oxalis corniculata is a annual or short-lived perennial plant growing only 5 - 10cm tall but spreading at the roots to form a mat of growth 30cm or more wide. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for food, medicine and various other commodities. Oxalis corniculata has many weedy characteristics, being readily self-pollinated, producing copious seeds in a short time, and being capable of growing rapidly in open places. It is considered a cosmopolitan weed of tropical and temperature zones and it probably occurs in most countries in the world, although it may not yet have been reported from all. It occurs in gardens, lawns, arable land and pastures, and as a weed of glasshouses and plant nurseries[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. , 1093 Title Invasive Species Compendium Publication Author Website http://www.cabi.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc). ].