Xanthoxalis grenadensis (Urb.) Tzvelev ex Prob. & Sokolovsk.
Xanthoxalis langloisii Small
Xanthoxalis repens (Thunb.) Moldenke
Xanthoxalis trinidadensis (R.Knuth) Holub
Oxalis corniculata, the creeping woodsorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel[2] or sleeping beauty, is a somewhat delicate-appearing, low-growing
herbaceousplant in the family
Oxalidaceae.
It is a small
creeping type of woodsorrel that tends to grow well in moist climates.[3] It resembles the common yellow woodsorrel, Oxalis stricta.
Description
It has a narrow, creeping stem that readily roots at the
nodes. The trifoliate
leaves are subdivided into three rounded leaflets and resemble a
clover in shape. Some varieties have green leaves, while others, like Oxalis corniculata var. atropurpurea, have purple. The leaves have inconspicuous
stipules at the base of each
petiole. The flowers are small and yellow, with some having round-edged petals and others possessing sharp ends. The flowers close when direct sun is not hitting the plant, hence the name "sleeping beauty". Some specimen can have a single flower while others can have over 20.
The
fruit is a narrow, cylindrical
capsule, 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) long, and noteworthy for its
explosive discharge of the contained seeds, 1 mm (0.04 in) long.[4] Pollen is about 34 microns in diameter.
Distribution
This species probably comes from southeastern Asia.[5] It was first described by
Linnaeus in 1753[6] using specimens from
Italy, and it seems to have been introduced to Italy from the east before 1500.[5] It is now
cosmopolitan in its distribution and is often regarded as a
weed in
gardens,[7] agricultural fields, and
lawns.[8]
Chloroplast genome
The chloroplast genome sequence is 152,189 bp in size, and contains 131 genes. It includes a pair of 25,387 bp inverted repeats that separate a large 83,427 bp single copy region. The genome suggests that this plant is closely related to O. drummondii.[3]
Uses
The leaves of woodsorrel are edible, and have a tangy taste like
lemons. A drink can be made by
infusing the leaves in hot water for about 10 minutes, sweetening, and then chilling.[9] The entire plant is rich in
vitamin C. Any woodsorrel is safe in low dosages, but if eaten in large quantities over a length of time can inhibit
calcium absorption by the body.[9]
As a hyperaccumulator of copper, it can be used for
phytoremediation. The 1491 Ming Dynasty text, Precious Secrets of the Realm of the King of Xin, describes how to locate underground copper deposits by extracting trace elements of copper from the plant.
Indigenous peoples of Taiwan frequently grow this plant (known roughly as p-r-səʔ) as a cure for snakebites and scabies.[10]
References
^"Oxalis corniculata L."Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2020.