''Oxalis corniculata'', the creeping woodsorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel or sleeping beauty, is a somewhat delicate-appearing, low-growing

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

aceous plant in the family

Oxalidaceae The Oxalidaceae, or wood sorrel family, are a small family of five genera of herbaceous plants, shrubs and small trees, with the great majority of the 570 species in the genus ''Oxalis'' (wood sorrels). Members of this family typically have divid ...

. It resembles the common yellow woodsorrel, '' Oxalis stricta''.

Description

It has a narrow, creeping stem that readily roots at the nodes. The trifoliate

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

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. O-Corniculata-photo 2019-05-24 14-20-52

The fruit is a narrow, cylindrical capsule, long, and noteworthy for its explosive discharge of the contained seeds, long. Pollen is about 34 microns in diameter.

Distribution

This species probably comes from southeastern Asia. It was first described by Linnaeus in 1753 using specimens from Italy, and it seems to have been introduced to Italy from the east before 1500. It is now cosmopolitan in its distribution and is regarded as a weed in gardens,Hackney, P. 1992. ''Stewart & Corry's Flora of the North-east of Ireland.'' Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University of Belfast. agricultural fields, and lawns.UC Davis IPM
/ref>

Uses

The leaves of woodsorrel are quite edible, with a tangy taste of lemons. A drink can be made by infusing the leaves in hot water for about 10 minutes, sweetening and then chilling.Lee Allen Peterson, ''Edible Wild Plants'', Houghton Mifflin Company, New York City (1977), p. 104. 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. 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.

References

External links

QuattrofoliumJepson Manual TreatmentPhoto gallery
{{Authority control corniculata Oxalidales of Australia Flora of Norfolk Island Cosmopolitan species Flora of Nepal Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Flora of Malta