Oxalis pes-caprae L.   =O. cernua   Oxalidaceae (Wood-Sorrel Family)   South Africa   Bermuda-Buttercup   Sour Grass

                                      February Photo

Plant Characteristics: Perennial from deep rootstock with scaly bulbs, less than 2.5 cm. in dia. acaulescent; stems mostly underground, vertical, short, often with bulblets, whitish; lvs. on glabrous petioles 1-2 dm. long; lfts. obcordate-bilobed, 1-2.5 cm. long, green, often spotted, glabrous; peduncles to ca. 30 cm., pedicels 3-10 or more, at first cernuous, then erect, pubescent, 1-2 cm. long; sepals lanceolate, 5-7 mm. long; petals deep yellow, 1.5-2.5 cm. long; caps. 5-7 mm. long.

Habitat:  Becoming abundantly natur. in orchards, fields and waste places at low elevs.; Fla., W.I.  March-Nov.

Name:  Greek, oxalis, sorrel, also making acid. (Jaeger 179).  Greek, pezos, on foot, walking and Greek, caper, a goat.  Pez-caprae may refer to the leaf shape resembling a goat’s foot or hoof?  The plant contains oxalic acid and the genus name may derive from this.  (my comments).

General:  Common in the study area.  Photographed on North Star Beach and at the north end of Eastbluff.  (my comments).     The leaves and stems may be eaten raw or a mass of them allowed to ferment slightly to make a tasty desert.  The leaves may be mixed with other greens in a salad.  (Kirk 29).      Take care not to consume a large quantity since these plants contain oxalic acid which may have a toxic effect.  (Dale 145).       Nearly 500 spp., many of horticultural value, some persistent weeds, a few grown for the edible tuberous parts.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 620).       Pernicious urban weed.  Possibly toxic in quantity to sheep.  (Hickman, Ed. 809).       The acidity in O. acetoselia is due to the oxalic acid, which, in combination with potassa, forms the binoxolate of that alkali.  The "Salts of Sorrell," formerly used to remove ink spots and iron marks from linen, is merely this salt separated from the plant.  (Meyer 142).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 809; Munz, Calif. Flora 147; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 622; Roberts 31.

Photo Ref:  Feb 1 83 # 12A,13A; Aug 83-Mar 94 # 20A.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

First Found:  February 1983.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 238.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 11/20/04.  

                                  March Photo                                                                        March Photo