Oxalis barrelieri

Barrelier's Wood-sorrel

OxalidaceaeLeavesPotential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and have an acid flavour. Use in moderation due to oxalic acid content.

Known 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.

Where to Find It

A tropical plant.

Amazon, American Samoa, Asia, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia, South America, Suriname, Venezuela, West Indies,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Antigua & Barbuda, Armenia, Argentina, American Samoa, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bolivia, Brazil, Bahamas, Bhutan, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Georgia, French Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jamaica, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, St Kitts & Nevis, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, St Lucia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Suriname, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, Taiwan, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, St Vincent, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

Oxalis barrelieri is a perennial with hermaphroditic flowers pollinated by insects. It grows in light sandy or medium loamy, well-drained soil in full sun, suitable for mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils. The plant tolerates both dry and moist conditions.

How to Grow

We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Easily grown in a sandy soil in a warm dry position.

Propagation: Seed is best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle, then plant out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring — larger divisions can go directly into permanent positions. Smaller divisions are better potted up and grown on in light shade in a cold frame until well established before planting out in late spring or early summer.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Other Uses

None known.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Oxalis barrelieri, the Barrelier's woodsorrel, or lavender sorrel, also commonly called in French trèfle, oseille-marron, or oseille-savane, is a plant from the genus Oxalis.

Notes

There are about 500 Oxalis species.

Names & Synonyms

Belimbing tanah, Sayur asam, Suwa wiwii, Tjalingjing

Acetosella barrelieri (L.) KuntzeOxalis amazonica Progeland others

References (9)

Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 456
Katz, E., et al, 2012, No greens in the forest? Note on the limited consumption of greens in the Amazon. Acta Soc Bot Pol 81(4):283–293
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 596 (As Oxalis cytisoides)
Pawera, L., et al, 2020, Wild Food Plants and Trends in Their Use: From Knowledge and Perceptions to Drivers of Change in West Sumatra, Indonesia, Foods. 2020, 9, 1240
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Smith, N., Mori, S.A., et al, 2004, Flowering Plants of the Neotropics. Princeton. p 283 (Drawing)
Sp. pl. ed. 2, 1:624. 1762
Veldkamp, 1971, Oxalidaceae, Flora Malesia Series 1 Vol 7:1 p 162
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew