Yellow wood-sorrel
Oxalis corniculata
Family: Oxalidaceae
What it is like
A small herb. It lies along the ground. The root system is thin. Several stems grow and these usually lie along the ground. These can form roots at the nodes. It grows 5 cm high. The stem is branched. There are no swollen storage organs under the ground. The leaves are stalked. They are alternate. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The leaflets have short slender stalks. The leaves are deeply lobed at the tip and wedge shaped at the base. There are stipules which are rounded and joined to the leaf stalk. The flowers are small and single. They occur on a side stalk. The flowers are yellow. The fruit are narrow and oblong. They are 5 angled. They have a short beak. There are several brown seeds.
There are about 500 Oxalis species. It is high in proVitamin A.
Where it is found
It can grow from tropical to warm temperate places. In Nepal it grows up to about 2900 m altitude. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 1,300-2,200 m above sea level. It grows in wetlands. In Zimbabwe it grows between 490-2,270 m above sea level. It grows in wetlands. It is moderately salt tolerant. It can grow in hot arid places. It can grow in arid places. Tasmania Herbarium. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Afghanistan, Africa, American Samoa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azores, Bahamas, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Middle East, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Norway, NW India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Rotuma, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sicily, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Slovakia, Socotra, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The young leaves are chewed when fresh. They are also pickled or used in chutney. The leaves are sour and can be added to salads. They can be cooked as a potherb. It is best to blanch them in boiled water then soaking in cold water for 2 hours. The leaves can be soaked in hot water for 10 minutes to make a drink. The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. CAUTION: Because the plant contains oxalates, eating it over extended periods can reduce the bodies ability to absorb calcium. It is best to eat it with some source of readily available calcium such as coconut milk or cream.
The leaves are eaten especially by children. They are only eaten in small amounts. It is sold in local markets in China.
Edible parts
Leaves, fruit, seeds, spice, flowers, vegetable
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. They can also be grown from rooted cuttings of the branches.
Its other names
Local names
Aamrul, Agritos, Almori, Amainor, Amarul, Ambi, Ambiliti saga, Amboti sag, Ambuti, Ambushi, Ambuti, Amelda, Amili, Amlika, Ammi, Amrul-sag, Anjati, An ni ze che, Awoaduo, Azedinha, Bab'alat, Bhilmori, Bhinsarpati, Bibi shaftala, Bodila-ba-thaba, Bolila ba litsoene, Calincing gunung, Chalmado, Chan-amilo, Changeritenga, Chari amilo, Cheko daro, Chiki rang, Chicha fuerte, Choti lonak, Chua me, Chuka tripati, Coastal Oxalis, Creeping oxalis, Creeping woodsorrel, Culle, Daun asem, Detembo, Echuilushakthi, Embul-embiliya, Embulpala, Emugereng, Gala,bsoska, Gansing, Gwaengibap, Hulichikkai, Hmo-chin, Kadiku, Hamidah, Kanyunywa mbuzi, Keuchu keuchu, Khati, Khatta-mitha, Khattamitha, Khatta zara, Khatti bhaji, Khatti-buti, Khiakhna, Khungbai-an, Kidadaishi, Kihikihi, Kiss punji, Kungi, Lewanai booti, Lonak, Lunglubo, Ma blan, Macach,n de chanchos, Malori, Maqui ch, Me chua aut, Me dat, Melgissa, Moogwani, Muk-chyor, Mu ye, Netho sag, Ozhe pito, Paliakiri, Pa yuan, Pe-de-pombo, Peeli, Peeli booti, Phagiyup, Piri jojo, Pisa tengesi mekhai, Piyag miu, Pooliaray, Procumbent yellow sorrel, Pulguita, Pulichappadi, Pulicharai, Pulichera, Pulichinta, Puli keerai, Puliyotharakeerai, Puliyarai, Puliyarel, Pulirarila, Pullachinta, Pullam purachi, Pulung sukhu, Pusinganju husuki, Ram ansur, Rempi, Salmudi, Sang hobo, Semanggen, Semanggi gunung, Sengeri tenga, Siakthur, Singri, Sigri gakhwi, Som saeng ka, Songxiangga, Soru tengeshi, Suan ji cao, Suring, Tandi chatomarak, Tarookay, Tarweekai, Tengeshi-tenga, Terko, Therwashka, Tipani, Tipatia, Trebol, Tres-coracaes, Trevo, Trewaky, Tripati, Tuftufak, Uppinasoppu, Vinagrillo, Vothung mekbpo, Vothung mekbob, Wild sorrel, Xian suan zai, Xocoyole, Yat leny, Yensil, Yensin, Zakskabene, Zolaomil
Synonyms
Oxalis corniculata var. microphylla Hook. f.; Oxalis corniculata var. reptans Laing; Oxalis corniculata var. villosa (M. Bieb.) Hohen; Oxalis exilis Cunn.; Oxalis javanica Blume; Oxalis perennans Haw.; Oxalis pusilla Salisb.; Oxalis radicosa A. Rich.; Oxalis repens Thunb.; Oxalis reptans Sol. ex G. Forst.; Oxalis rubens Haw.;