Oxalis violacea
| Oxalis violacea | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Oxalidales |
| Family: | Oxalidaceae |
| Genus: | Oxalis |
| Species: | O. violacea
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| Binomial name | |
| Oxalis violacea | |
| Synonyms | |
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Oxalis violacea, the violet wood-sorrel, is a perennial plant and herb in the family Oxalidaceae.[1] It is native to the eastern and central United States.
Description
[edit]Oxalis violacea emerges in early spring from an underground bulb and produces leaf stems 7–13 cm (2+3⁄4–5 in) tall and flower umbels, or clusters, with up to 19 flowers on stems 9–23 cm (3+1⁄2–9 in) tall.[2] The three-part leaves have heart-shaped leaflets. The plant is similar in appearance to small clovers such as the shamrock.
The plant bears lavender to white flowers 1–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) wide with white to pale green centers above the foliage, during April or May, rarely to July, and, with rain, sometimes produces additional flowers without leaves from August to October.[2]
Etymology
[edit]The genus name, Oxalis, is from the Greek word oxys, which means "sharp" and refers to the sharp or sour taste from the oxalic acid present in the plant.[3][4] The specific epithet, violacea, is Latin for violet-colored.[5]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]It is native plant in much of the United States, from the Rocky Mountains east to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico coasts, and through Eastern Canada. It has a tendency to cluster in open places in damp woods and on stream banks, and in moist prairies.[1]
Conservation
[edit]The plant's conservation status is globally secure;[6] however, it is listed as endangered in Massachusetts[7] and Rhode Island,[8] threatened in New York,[9] and a species of special concern in Connecticut.[10] It is presumed extirpated in Michigan.[11]
Uses
[edit]Medicinal
[edit]Oxalis violacea was used as a medicinal plant by Native Americans, including the Cherokee and Pawnee peoples.[12]
Culinary
[edit]All parts of the plant are edible – flowers, leaves, stems, and bulb. Oxalis is from the Greek word meaning sour, and this plant has a sour juice. It is used in salads. Moderate use of plant is advisable, as it should not be eaten in large quantities due to a high concentration of oxalic acid, ("salt of lemons") which can be poisonous.[13]
It was a traditional food source of the Native American Apache, Cherokee, Omaha, Pawnee, and Ponca peoples.[12]
Cultivation
[edit]Oxalis violacea is cultivated as an ornamental plant, for use as a flowering groundcover or perennial plant in traditional and native plant gardens, and for natural landscaping projects.[14] It spreads rapidly by runners and bulbs.[15] In gardens the plant prefers partial shade and moisture.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Oxalis violacea". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ a b Nesom, Guy L. (2016). "Oxalis violacea". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 12. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press – via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
- ^ "oxalis - WordReference.com Dictionary of English". www.wordreference.com.
- ^ Denison, Edgar (2017). Missouri Wildflowers (Sixth ed.). Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri. p. 58. ISBN 978-1-887247-59-7.
- ^ "Latin Definition for: violaceus, violacea, violaceum (ID: 38867) - Latin Dictionary and Grammar Resources - Latdict". latin-dictionary.net.
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org.
- ^ "List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species | Mass.gov". www.mass.gov.
- ^ "Oxalis violacea (violet wood sorrel): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org.
- ^ "Violet Wood Sorrel Guide - New York Natural Heritage Program". guides.nynhp.org.
- ^ "Oxalis violacea". www.ct-botanical-society.org.
- ^ "Oxalis violacea (Violet wood sorrel) - Michigan Natural Features Inventory". mnfi.anr.msu.edu.
- ^ a b "BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database". naeb.brit.org.
- ^ Berglund, Berndt; Bolsby, Clare E. (1971). The Edible Wild: A complete cookbook and guide to edible wild plants in Canada and North America. Burns & MacEachern Limited—Pagurian Press Limited.
- ^ "Oxalis violacea". Plant Finder. Missouri Botanical Garden, Kemper Center for Home Gardening.
- ^ a b "Oxalis violacea". Native Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas at Austin.
External links
[edit]
- Oxalis violacea in the CalPhotos photo database, University of California, Berkeley
- Flora of Pennsylvania