Violet Wood Sorrel 40D0038774

Violet Wood Sorrel (Oxalis violacea)

The Violet Wood Sorrel is a perennial native herb, found growing in grasslands and openings in woodlands, shaded slopes, gravelly banks and prairies in Eastern N. America, New York to Wisconsin, south to Florida. Growing from a rose-colored underground bulb are several flowers clustered atop thin stalks up to 8 inches long. The half inch wide flowers, blooming as early as April and May, are usually violet, but may be white, being bell-shaped, with five delicate petals. Each leaf has three hearth-shaped leaflets, a bright green above, and purplish to dark red on their under surface, especially at the base. The leaflets are usually folded along their middle, and are of a sensitive nature.

The leaves, flowers and bulbs of Wood Sorrel are edible and medicinal. The entire plant is used as an alternative medicine, it has diuretic, antiscorbutic and refrigerant actions, and a decoction made from its pleasant acid leaves is given in high fever, both to quench thirst and to allay the fever. Excess internal use should be avoided, as the oxalic salts are not suitable to all, especially those of a gouty and rheumatic tendency, or with high blood pressure. Several native tribes used it to make a kind of refreshing lemonade drink. The leaves have a pleasantly acid taste, due to the presence of considerable quantities of binoxalate of potash.

More info: [link]

Featured by the talented Ashley Christine in her journal "Rising Stars + Contest Winner Features": [link] .