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Useful Temperate Plants

Oxalis latifolia

Kunth

Oxalidaceae

+ Synonyms

Acetosella galeottii (Turcz.) Kuntze

Acetosella lilacina (Klotzsch) Kuntze

Acetosella schraderiana (Kunth) Kuntze

Acetosella violacea albida Kuntze

Acetosella violacea latifolia (Kunth) Kuntze

Ionoxalis angulata Small

Ionoxalis attenuata Small

Ionoxalis bipartita Rose

Ionoxalis buchtienii Rusby

Ionoxalis calcaria Small

Ionoxalis galeottii (Turcz.) Rose

Ionoxalis intermedia Small

Ionoxalis latifolia (Kunth) Rose

Ionoxalis stipitata Rose

Ionoxalis tenuiloba Rose

Ionoxalis vespertilionis (Zucc.) Rose

Oxalis angulata (Small) R.Knuth

Oxalis atroglandulosa R.Knuth

Oxalis binervis Regel

Oxalis buchtienii (Rusby) R.Knuth

Oxalis chiriquensis Woodson

Oxalis cobanensis R.Knuth

Oxalis eggersii Urb.

Oxalis galeottii Turcz.

Oxalis lilacina Klotzsch

Oxalis minarum Standl. & Steyerm.

Oxalis morelosensis R.Knuth

Oxalis multipes R.Knuth

Oxalis pilgeri R.Knuth

Oxalis ramonensis R.Knuth

Oxalis schraderiana Kunth

Oxalis tenuiloba (Rose) R.Knuth

Oxalis vallicola (Rose ex Small) R.Knuth

Oxalis vespertilionis Zucc.

Sassia latifolia (Kunth) Holub

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Oxalis latifolia is an erect perennial plant producing clusters of leaves up to 30cm tall from a bulb. The plant usually spreads rapidly by means of underground stolons up to 10cm long, with up to 30 new bulbs being formed at the end of each stolon. Each bulb can produce a new cluster of leaves, the plant quickly producing carpets of leaves growing directly from the bulbs. In some forms, usually growing in the temperate zone, the plant does not produce stolons, the new bulbs being formed near the base of the bulb[
272
Title
Plants and People of Nepal
Publication
 
Author
Manandhar. N. P.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
2002
ISBN
0-88192-527-6
Description
Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
,
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is often grown as an ornamental where, at least in the tropics, it can be used as a ground cover.
Oxalis latifolia is listed as a weed in at least 37 countries and in at least 30 crops. It is a major weed in India, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Uganda, particularly in cassava, maize, upland rice, tea, potato, coffee, cereals, sugarcane, orchards and vegetables. It can achieve dominance under certain intensive cultivation systems which remove other competing weeds, and spread of bulbs. It is of undisputed importance in horticultural nurseries where it may infest the produce sold and lead to loss of reputation and occasionally to business closure[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

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[
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 References


Range

S. America - Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela;, through Mesoamerica to southwestern N. America (Mexico, California to Texas; Caribbean

Habitat

Moist, shady conditions[
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.25 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Oxalis latifolia is a plant of the humid tropics, especially at higher elevations (up to 3,000 metres in Colombia), and also of the subtropics; it has also spread as a weed into warmer areas of the temperate zone[
1093
Title
Invasive Species Compendium
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.cabi.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
].

Edible Uses

Leaves and stems are eaten as a vegetable or made into tea in Mexico[
1438
Title
Food Plants in the Americas: A Survey of the Domesticated, Cultivated, and Wild Plants Used for Human Food in North,
Publication
 
Author
Kermath B.M.; Bennett B.C.' Pulsipher L.M.
Publisher
 
Year
2014
ISBN
 
Description
A pre-publication draft of an amazing, on-going work first started in 1985. It contains information on more than 3,900 taxa from the Americas - from Arctic regions to the Tropics
]. An acid flavour[
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
]. The leaves are pickled[
272
Title
Plants and People of Nepal
Publication
 
Author
Manandhar. N. P.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
2002
ISBN
0-88192-527-6
Description
Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be used as a ground cover in moist, shady places[
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].

Other Uses

The root is mixed with natural dyes in order to make the colour fast[
272
Title
Plants and People of Nepal
Publication
 
Author
Manandhar. N. P.
Publisher
Timber Press. Oregon.
Year
2002
ISBN
0-88192-527-6
Description
Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-03. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Oxalis+latifolia>

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