Oxalis debilis
Oxalis debilis
Safety & 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[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ].
Botanical Description
Oxalis debilis is a perennial plant growing from a bulb; it produces a cluster of leaves and flowering stems about 15cm tall. The bulb also produces many small bulbs around its base and a fleshy, contractile root that can pull the bulb deeper into the soil. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for its edible leaves, flowers and root. Oxalis debilis is often grown as an ornamental. It has spread from cultivation and become naturalized in many locations outside its native range. The plant spreads especially by means of the many small bulbs produced around the base of the mother bulb which are easily detatched from the parent plant. The plant is deemed invasive in many tropical countries and, even though it is a tropical plant, it has also become naturalized in warmer areas of the temperate zone such as southwest Europe[ 305 Title Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk Publication Author Website http://www.hear.org/pier/scientificnames/index.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A very good website detailing weed species that have been introduced into the Pacific Islands. ].