Oxalis stricta, called the common yellow woodsorrel (or simply yellow woodsorrel), common yellow oxalis, or upright yellow-sorrel is a herbaceous plant.

Habitat O. stricta is native to North America and East Asia and has been introduced elsewhere, especially in Europe. It was not documented in Michigan before the 1890s.

It tends to grow in woodlands, meadows, and in disturbed areas as both a perennial and annual. and generally requires dry or moist, alkaline soils, preferring sandy and loamy dirt to grow in. It requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor grounds.

Commonly considered a weed of gardens, fields, and lawns, it grows in full sun or shade.

Description Upright yellow woodsorrel is an annual or short-lived perennial plant that has short rhizomes, but never has bulbs. The alternate leaves of this plant are divided into three distinctively heart-shaped leaflets (a typical trait of other species of Oxalis) that can grow up to wide. These leaves curl up at night (exhibiting nyctinasty), and open in the day to perform photosynthesis.

The flowers of the plant are hermaphroditic, blooming from July to October.

The mature seed capsules open explosively when disturbed (a very similar trait to that of the mature seed capsules or fruits of plants found in the genus Impatiens) and can disperse seeds up to away.

Erect when young, this plant later becomes decumbent as it lies down, and branches regularly.

It is not to be confused with similar plants in the same genus which are also often referred to as "yellow woodsorrel".

Taxonomy Oxalis stricta was given its scientific name in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus. It is classified in the genus Oxalis within the family Oxalidaceae. It has synonyms including 29 species names.

Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Notes Acetosella chinensis 1891 species = het., not validly publ. Acetosella fontana 1891 species = het. Acetosella stricta 1891 species ≡ hom. Ceratoxalis coloradensis 1916 species = het. Ceratoxalis cymosa 1916 species = het. Ceratoxalis stricta 1916 species ≡ hom. Oxalis ambigua 1794 species ≡ hom., nom. illeg. Oxalis bushii 1898 species = het. Oxalis chinensis 1832 species = het., nom. nud. Oxalis coloradensis 1902 species = het. Oxalis corniculata var. longepedunculata 1930 variety = het. Oxalis corniculata subsp. navieri 1908 subspecies = het. Oxalis corniculata proles navieri 1897 proles = het. Oxalis corniculata subvar. piletocarpa 1926 subvariety = het. Oxalis corniculata subsp. stricta 1894 subspecies ≡ hom. Oxalis corniculata var. stricta 1798 variety ≡ hom. Oxalis corniculata proles stricta 1897 proles ≡ hom. Oxalis cymosa 1896 species = het. Oxalis dillenii var. piletorum 1980 variety = het. Oxalis europaea 1854 species = het. Oxalis europaea var. bushii 1925 variety = het. Oxalis europaea f. cymosa 1925 form = het. Oxalis europaea var. lanulosa 1929 variety = het. Oxalis europaea f. pallidiflora 1942 form = het. Oxalis europaea f. pilosella 1925 form = het. Oxalis europaea f. subglabrata 1925 form = het. Oxalis europaea f. vestita 1925 form = het. Oxalis europaea f. villicaulis 1925 form = het. Oxalis fluminensis var. bushii 1949 variety = het. Oxalis fluminensis f. cymosa 1949 form = het. Oxalis fluminensis f. pallidiflora 1949 form = het. Oxalis fluminensis f. pilosella 1949 form = het. Oxalis fluminensis f. subglabrata 1949 form = het. Oxalis fluminensis f. vestita 1949 form = het. Oxalis fluminensis f. villicaulis 1949 form = het. Oxalis fontana 1835 species = het. Oxalis fontana var. bushii 1949 variety = het. Oxalis fontana var. rufa 1989 variety = het. Oxalis interior 1919 species = het. Oxalis lejeunei 1897 species = het. Oxalis longepedunculata 1927 species = het. Oxalis navieri 1854 species = het. Oxalis oneidica 1923 species = het. Oxalis repens var. stricta 1933 variety ≡ hom. Oxalis rufa 1901 species = het. Oxalis shinanoensis 1909 species = het. Oxalis stricta var. bushii 1918 variety = het. Oxalis stricta f. cymosa 1982 form = het. Oxalis stricta var. decumbens 1907 variety = het. Oxalis stricta f. decumbens 1979 form = het. Oxalis stricta subsp. diffusa 1908 subspecies = het. Oxalis stricta var. diffusa 1824 variety = het. Oxalis stricta var. europaea 1930 variety = het. Oxalis stricta var. lejeunei 1937 variety = het. Oxalis stricta var. navieri 1878 variety = het. Oxalis stricta var. piletocarpa 1925 variety = het. Oxalis stricta var. piletorum 1925 variety = het. Oxalis stricta var. rufa 1918 variety = het. Oxalis stricta var. villicaulis 1928 variety = het. Oxalis stricta f. villicaulis 1982 form = het. Oxalis stricta var. viridiflora 1907 variety = het. Oxalis stricta f. viridiflora 1936 form = het. Oxys stricta 1785 species ≡ hom. Xanthoxalis bushii 1903 species = het. Xanthoxalis coloradensis 1906 species = het. Xanthoxalis cymosa 1903 species = het. Xanthoxalis dillenii var. piletocarpa 1972 variety = het. Xanthoxalis dillenii var. piletorum 1972 variety = het. Xanthoxalis europaea 1942 species = het. Xanthoxalis europaea var. bushii 1943 variety = het. Xanthoxalis europaea f. cymosa 1943 form = het. Xanthoxalis europaea f. subglabrata 1943 form = het. Xanthoxalis europaea f. vestita 1943 form = het. Xanthoxalis europaea f. villicaulis 1944 form = het. Xanthoxalis fontana 1972 species = het. Xanthoxalis fontana subsp. villicaulis 1977 subspecies = het. Xanthoxalis interior 1903 species = het. Xanthoxalis rufa 1903 species = het. Xanthoxalis stricta 1903 species ≡ hom. Xanthoxalis stricta var. piletocarpa 1943 variety = het. Xanthoxalis stricta subsp. villicaulis 1996 subspecies = het. Xanthoxalis stricta f. viridiflora 1943 form = het. Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym ; = heterotypic synonym

Names Oxalis stricta is known by the common name common yellow woodsorrel, also spelled common yellow wood-sorrel and common yellow wood sorrel, but this name has also been applied to Oxalis dillenii. Additionally it is called yellow sheepsorrel, sheep shower, and stickwort.

It is known as sour grass for the agreeably sour flavor of the leaves and unripe pods. Similarly, it is informally called sour clover, sauerkraut, and pickles, particularly by children. Other sour names include sour trefoil, wood sour, pickel plant, and lemon clover. For the shape of its seed capsule it is sometimes named sour bananas.

In the early 1900s it was called lady's sorrel in the United States, however both Oxalis corniculata and Oxalis acetosella are also known as lady's sorrel. It was also known as upright yellow wood-sorrel, sheep sorrel, and sheep poison around the same time in the US.

Cultivation

Uses Culinary

All parts of the plant are edible, with a distinct tangy flavor (common to all plants in the genus Oxalis). The leaves have a similar taste to lemons. Oxalis stricta is often eaten while hiking or camping. However, it should only be eaten in small quantities, since oxalic acid is an antinutrient and can inhibit the body's absorption of calcium. The sour flavor is eliminated when the plant is cooked.

The leaves and flowers of the plant are sometimes added to salads for decoration and flavoring. These can also be chewed raw (along with other parts of the plant, but not the root) as a thirst-quencher. The green pods are pleasant raw, having a juicy crisp texture and a tartness similar to rhubarb in flavor.

The leaves can be used to make a flavored drink that is similar in taste to lemonade, and the whole plant can be brewed as herbal tea that has an aroma somewhat like that of cooked green beans.

The juices of the plant have been extracted from its greens as a substitute for common vinegar. Medicinal Oxalis stricta contains large amounts of vitamin C, and has been used to treat scurvy.

A poultice of the plant has been used to treat swellings.

Practical An orange dye can be obtained by boiling the whole plant.

References Citations

Sources Books

Web sources

External links

United States Department of Agriculture: Profile For Oxalis Stricta