Oxalidaceae FAMILY

Oxalis frutescens

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

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 frutescens is a perennial plant that can be herbaceous, though the stems often become more or less woody and persist; it can grow up to 100cm tall[ 1171 Title Flora del Bajío y de Regiones Adyacentes Publication Author Jerzy Rzedowski & Graciela Calderón de Rzedowski (Editors) Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Instituto de Ecología A.C. Centro Regional del Bajío; Mexico Year 0 ISBN 0188-5170 Description Spanish-language flora of northwestern Mexico. It can be downloaded from the Internet ] The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeS. America - northern Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; through Mesoamerica to northern Mexico; Caribbean

HabitatThin soils along river banks, in the understorey of tropical deciduous trees; at elevations around 650 metres in Mexico[ 605 Title Flore de L'Ile de la Reunion Publication Author E. Jacob De Cordemoy Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Librairie Medicale & Scientifique; Paris. Year 1895 ISBN Description Not really a flora, more a list of the plants known at that time. It often includes a brief description of habit and habitat, plus the local uses of the plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. Dry scrub[ 787 Title Flora of Dominica, Part 2: Dicotyledoneae Publication Smithsonian Contributions to Botany No. 77 Author Nicolson D.H.; et al Website http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Botany/ Publisher Smithsonian Institute Press; Washington Year 1991 ISBN 90-10415 Description A terse but very useful flora with a somewhat limited botanical description plus range, habitat and some uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].