Oxalis Corniculata
Other names : Creeping wood sorrel, yellow wood sorrel, Indian sorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel, Changeri, Amlapatri, Tinapatiya, Amrulsak, Malayalam: Puliyaral, Puliyarila, चाङ्गॆरी
Creeping wood sorrel is a world-wide weed which is almost impossible to get rid of. So, one might as well enjoy it - it has beautiful yellow flowers. Creeping woodsorrel is of uncertain origin just because it became so wide spread so long ago. Branching from the base and often rooted at the nodes, the upper portion is ascending or weakly erect, smooth or hairy. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stems. A single long stalk arises from the axils of the leaf, from which extend three flower stalks, each with a single flower. The flowers are 7-11 mm wide and have 5 yellow petals. The fruit is a capsule, 1-1.5 cm long, cylindric, pointed apically, and 5-ridged in cross section.
Special Precautions of Oxalis Corniculata
- Wood sorrel contains 0.3 to 1.25% oxalic acid (NMCD 2000). Oxalic acid combines with calcium forming calcium oxalate in the gastrointestinal tract or the urinary tract in the bloodstream. This may damage the kidneys, leading acute kidney failure.
- Although wood sorrel is safe in low dosages, it can inhibit calcium absorption by the body if eaten in large quantities over a length of time.
Benefits and uses of Oxalis Corniculata are
The leaves of wood sorrel are edible, having a tangy taste. A drink can be made by infusing the leaves in hot water for about 10 minutes, sweetening and then chilling.
- Fresh juice of leaves given in dyspepsia, piles, anemia and tympanitis.
- Infusion of leaves used to cure opacity of the cornea.
- Leaf juice given to counteract Datura poisoning.
- treatment of scurvy, dysentery, hepatitis, dysmenorrhoea, amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea
- The entire plant is rich in Vitamin C.
