Oxalis pes-caprae

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Oxalis pes-caprae, Bermuda-buttercup, Soursob
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Oxalidales Family: Oxalidaceae Genus: Oxalis
Binomial name
Oxalis pes-caprae

Oxalis pes-caprae (Bermuda buttercup, African wood-sorrel, Bermuda sorrel, Buttercup oxalis, Cape sorrel, English weed, Goat's-foot, Sourgrass, Soursob, Soursop) is a species of tristylous flowering plant in the wood sorrel family Oxalidaceae. Oxalis cernua is a less common synonym for this species.

The flower is actinomorphic, with a calyx composed of five free or slightly fused sepals, a sympetalous corolla composed of five fused petals, an apoandrous androecium composed of ten free stamens in two ranks, and a compound pistil.

Indigenous to South Africa, Bermuda buttercup is a highly invasive weed in many parts of the world including the United States (particularly coastal California), Europe and Australia.^[1] It is often called by the common name sourgrass or soursob due to its pleasant sour flavor. This sourness is caused by oxalic acid, which is toxic in large quantities and may contribute to kidney stones.

[edit] Gallery

Flower	Flower detail	Flowers	Leaves
Bulbs	Bulbs and roots	Entire plant	An Oxalis pes-caprae plant growing in Israel
Oxalis pes-caprae growing like a carpet in South Australia	Soursobs amoung other invasive weeds in a Richmond, California garden.

[edit] References