Oxalis pes-caprae
| Oxalis pes-caprae | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 1' |
| Blooms: | Early Spring-Early Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Oxalis pes-caprae (common name: bermuda buttercup)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in late spring or early summer.
Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cultivation: Easily grown in a sandy soil in a warm dry position[1].
This species is not very cold-hardy in Britain, though it is naturalized in parts of south-western England[1][2]. It tolerates temperatures down to about -5°c[3].
Plants spread rapidly when in a suitable environment and can quite easily become a weed in virtually frost-free environments[4][5]. Plants seldom produce seed in Europe but they spread by means of asexually produced bulbils[4].
Range: S. Africa. Occasionally naturalized in Britain.
Habitat: Roadsides and grassy places in S. Africa[6]. Occasionally naturalized in S.W. England but it does not flower there[2].
Edibility: Leaves - raw or cooked[7][8]. Use in moderation, see notes at top of sheet.
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The leaves contain oxalic acid, which gives them their sharp flavour. Perfectly all right in small quantities, the leaves should not be eaten in large amounts since oxalic acid can bind up the body's supply of calcium leading to nutritional deficiency. Th
Also Known As: O. cernua.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Bulbs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2. Pan Books, London, 1998.
- ↑ Adamson, Robert and Terence Salter. Flora of the Cape Peninsula. 1950.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Crowe, Andrew. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton, 1990.
- ↑ Douglas, James. Alternative Foods.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Heywood, Vernon. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press.