Oxalis (lat. Oxalis) is a genus of annual or perennial herbs, rarely shrubs of the Oxalis family (lat. Oxalidaceae). In English, it is often called "wood sorrel" (English woodsorrel) because of the sour taste. Some species are called yellow or pink sorrel for the color of the flowers, as well as “lucky clover” for the shape of the leaves. In Russian, names such as oxalis and hare cabbage are used.
Description
Flowering perennial stemless plant. The rhizome is creeping, bearing fleshy scales, which are the basis for leaf petioles. There are tubers. The leaves are collected in basal rosettes, or move away from the rhizome one at a time. The leaf, as a rule, consists of three triangular-heart-shaped leaflets. Their color can be different: green, purple, maroon, red-burgundy. In nature, oxalis blooms in May or June.
Oxalis nine-leaved
Flowers solitary on peduncles 5-15 cm long, regular five-petal shape. Calyx with five lanceolate sepals. The petals are longer than the calyx, can be painted in different colors, but in most species they are white, yellow or pink. Stamens 10. Flowers of two types: ordinary (pollinated by insects) and closed (self-pollinated). The latter are very small and usually not visible. They are an adaptation for breeding in dense forests where there are few insects.
The fruit is a capsule, few seeds. They are either shot in different directions, or carried by ants.
An interesting fact: A characteristic feature of oxalis is that the leaves can fold with the change of night and day, with mechanical irritations, from bright light. Also, the flowers of the plant react to the change of weather, day and night: they close. Such phenomena occur as a result of changes in turgor (internal pressure).
The structure of the plant, using the example of common sorrel
Kinds
About 800 species of oxalis are known in nature. They grow all over the globe, except for the polar regions; the flora of tropical Brazil, Mexico and South Africa is very rich.
K. vulgaris(lat. O. acetosella) is the type genus. In our geographic latitude, there are familiar, rapidly growing and ubiquitous weed species: K. direct (lat. O. stricta) and K. carob (lat. O. corniculata).
K. Regnella(lat. O. regnellii) or K. triangular (lat. O. triangularis) - a species that can be found in many homes where the plant is grown as an indoor plant. In the garden in the flower bed, it also feels very good. The species is attractive with a beautiful purple color of the leaves. Flowers white, small.
K. Depp or K. four-leafed (lat. O. deppei or O. tetraphylla) - a species from Mexico, interesting for the bicolor color of the leaves: they are green on the outside, and maroon towards the center. In addition, the sheet does not consist of 3, but of 4 simple leaves. The plant blooms with red flowers and has edible corms.
K. yellowish(lat. O. luteola) - a species of blooming pale yellow flowers with a dark center, originally from South Africa.
K. Lawson(lat. O. lawsonii) grows in South Africa. Pleases with flowering in the second half of summer with beautiful pink flowers.
K. multi-colored(lat. O. versicolor) is a stunning species from South Africa, known since the 18th century. Interesting coloring flowers, they are like lollipops: red with white stripes during opening, when open, the corolla is white inside and red outside. Variety "Flore Plena" (lat. O. compressa ‘Flore Plena’) is notable for its chic yellow double flowers.
Oxalis yellowish
K. nine-leaved(lat. O. enneaphylla) - a low species (grows up to 10 cm), blooming in May - June, usually with pink or white flowers. It is interesting in the complex shape of the leaves: they consist of nine simple leaflets.
K. dissected(lat. O. laciniata). The original variety ‘Seven Bells’ is one of the few types of oxalis that has blue-blue flowers.
"Ion Hecker" (O. ‘IoneHecker’) is a hybrid variety obtained by crossing K. dissected (lat. O. laciniata) and K. nine-leafed (lat. O. enneaphylla). Plants with very beautiful and large flowers, pleasantly smelling. Flowering occurs in early summer.
K. purple(lat. O. purpurea) - a species characterized by very large purple flowers.
K. volcanic(lat. O. vulcanicola) variety 'Sunset Velvet' blooms with yellow flowers, but is valued for the color of the foliage, which shimmers with all the colors of a summer evening sunset, and in the cool months the leaves are of a cold green hue, and in the warm summer they become pale green, yellowish, orange and pinkish.
An interesting fact: in the mountainous regions of South and Central America, K. tuberous (lat. O. tuberosa) is grown to eat tubers. Plants are called "oca", its tubers are very similar to potatoes.
Photogallery of species
Cultivation and care
Lighting. Any place on the site is suitable for growing and caring for oxalis: it is not demanding on light and grows well both in the shade and in the sun. Plants with purple, purple and burgundy foliage are best planted in shade and partial shade to protect them from burns.
The soil. Soils are suitable neutral or slightly acidic, well-drained. It can be ordinary garden soil with the addition of peat and compost, and a small amount of sand is also welcome.
Wintering. There is only one drawback of oxalis - almost all types and varieties are thermophilic, therefore they cover it very well for the winter, the earth is mulched with needles or sawdust. If the root system of oxalis is tuberous, then they are dug up for the winter, dried, divided and placed in dry sand for storage until spring. Planted in flower beds in warm weather.
Oxide volcanic, grade ‘Sunset Velvet’
Feeding and watering. Watering loves good, especially in hot weather, but the "bay" does not tolerate well - the root system can rot. From fertilizers, top dressing with organic fertilizers (weak infusion of mullein) during budding is possible. When using complex mineral fertilizers, the dose of the drug should be halved.
Diseases and pests. Oxygen is not susceptible to viral and fungal diseases, but insects can be harmful, for example, aphids, mites, scale insects. To combat them, conventional insecticidal preparations are used.
Types of rhizomes and tubers of oxalis of different types
reproduction
Oxalis can be propagated by seeds, or by dividing rhizomes and tubers. In fact, oxalis with nodules is very similar to potatoes, so the planting is similar. If the species (variety) is winter-hardy, then the “baby” is planted in the ground in September, if it is not frost-resistant, then in the spring. For our latitudes, the second option is suitable. Planting depth of sour should be 8 - 10 cm, and the distance between the tubers should be at least 10 cm.
Cultivation of oxalis from seeds is carried out in the traditional seedling way, sowing in a pot in April and planting in flower beds in May. On sale you can find both seeds and nodules.
Elegant window sill: hydrangea, fuchsia and sour
Use in landscape design
Thanks to the multi-colored foliage, flowers, sizes and shapes, there is a huge variety of ways to use oxalis in landscaping a site. It can be hanging and floor flowerpots on the terrace.
Joint plantings with any plants in mixborders, in this case the acid will be the first tier. Those species and varieties of oxalis that grow rapidly and form curtains can be planted on alpine hills and in rockeries.
Luxurious beauty - Oxalis multi-colored
Since the plant is shade-tolerant, it is perfect for planting in the shade of trees and large shrubs. Oxalis looks very beautiful: quivering leaves, like groups of butterflies, form spherical shapes, complemented by the same delicate flowers.
Edible types of oxalis are used for cooking, and are also widely used for medical purposes in various diseases.
Oxalis tuberous (lat. Oxalis tuberosa)- herbaceous tuberous perennial plant of the genus Oxalis (lat. Oxalis), belonging to the family of the same name Oxalis (lat. Oxalidaceae). The high nutritional value of Oxalis tubers, combined with the unpretentiousness of the plant to the conditions of life, makes the cultivation of Oxalis tuberous in the difficult climatic conditions of the Andes, from Venezuela to Argentina, very popular. In terms of cultivation, Kislitsa is second only to potatoes.
What's in your name
With regard to the Latin name of this plant, there are no difficulties, since the Russian name is a literal translation of its Latin counterpart. That is, both the generic name and the specific epithet in Latin, “Oxalis tuberosa”, mean exactly “tuberous sour”.Much more confusion arises with the local names of the plant, since the people of each country where edible root vegetables are grown give the plant its own name. So, for example, in Bolivia it is "Apilla" or "Apina". The latter is also characteristic of Peru. In Brazil, its name echoes the name "Batata" (Sweet Potato) and sounds like "Batata-baroa" or "mandioquinha". In Colombia, these are as many as three names: "Hibia", "Huasisai", "IBI". There are as many as four in Venezuela ... In New Zealand and Polynesia, where tuberous Oxalis has taken root well, it is called "Yam" (Yam).
Description
The external appearance of the aerial parts of Oxalis tuberous does not differ from most of its relatives. This is a short plant with petiolate compound leaves, consisting of three heart-shaped light green leaves with a small notch along the upper edge. They also like to droop in unfavorable climatic moments, folding their halves on both sides of the central vein tightly to each other.On strong peduncles are racemose inflorescences of small yellow flowers.
But, unlike many other species of the genus Oxalis, the tuberous species has a stem. Moreover, there is a stem on the surface of the earth, which helps to create such compact bushes growing in New Zealand, as in the photo below:
In addition, there are also underground stems or shoots (stolons), from which nutritious starchy tubers are formed, competing with potatoes and differing from it in a slightly pungent aroma. The color of the tubers, covered with fleshy scales, depends on the variety and can be yellow, violet-purple, reddish, or bright red.
Tubers can be eaten raw, or cooked from them in various ways, similar to the methods of cooking everyone's favorite potatoes.
The leaves are also edible along with young shoots as green vegetables.
Tubers sour and sweet
Some varieties of Oxalis tuberous contain a lot of oxalic acid, which is harmful to the human body. These are varieties with sour tubers. To remove excess oxalic acid, the tubers are subjected to a special treatment. They are soaked in water for about a month, and then laid out under the daytime sun and the cold of the nights, so that the tubers get rid of moisture and acid completely.Sweet varieties containing oxalic acid in smaller quantities are not subjected to soaking, but are given over to the power of the sun's rays, which are also able to displace acid from the tubers, making them even sweeter. Such potatoes are suitable not only for garnish and soups, but also for making sweet desserts.
Oxalis (Oxalis) is a genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the Oxalis family. This grass is widespread on almost all continents and is even a symbol of Ireland. The plant got this name because of the sour taste of foliage; In Latin, Oxalis also means sour. In our country, this flower is nicknamed "hare cabbage".
General information
There are about eight hundred wild types of oxalis, and among the cultivated ones there are both garden and indoor types.
Oxalis is difficult to characterize in one word, since within the genus there are both annuals and perennials, herbs with a tuber rhizome and with bulbs. The foliage of these flowers is located on the petiole, it is palmate or trifoliate. An interesting feature is that in the evening it bends, and opens in the morning.
The color of the foliage depends on the species and is green, burgundy or purple. The flowers are small, regular, mostly delicate tones. In the evening, as well as before bad weather, the flowers close.
The seeds ripen in a fruit that bursts easily when touched. In addition, the herb is used in cooking - it is added to first courses, teas, kvass. In culture, triangular and four-leaved oxalis are most often grown.
Species and varieties
Or purple the most widespread type in culture. It is a low flower with purple foliage. The flowers are small, usually white or pale pink.
Or Deppe can be grown both in the garden and indoors. Its leaves have 4 lobes of pale green color with a burgundy middle. Scarlet inflorescences. This species is named in Europe lucky clover »
It is a low bush with clover-like foliage and large single flowers.
A delicate flower that is very afraid of the cold. It has light leaves and pale lilac flowers.
A very beautiful species, popular due to its white flowers with scarlet stripes.
Also known are tuberous oxalis , carob , poor , succulent , but they are not very popular and are quite rarely grown.
Oxygen care at home
Room acid needs the same conditions as wild. The first condition for the health of the plant is bright, but diffused lighting, so that direct rays do not touch it.
The summer temperature suitable for oxalis fluctuates around 25°C, and the winter temperature is around 12-18°C.
Watering room acid
Oxalis needs a lot of moisture, but keep the soil moist, because if the water remains in the pot for a long time, the roots may rot. With the advent of autumn, they begin to water the flower less often, and in winter, watering is done only to lightly moisten the soil.
It is generally not necessary to spray the flower, but in case of too hot weather, you can do this using boiled water. In winter, this procedure cannot be performed.
Kislitsa rest period
Some species for the winter fall into a dormant period, which lasts about a month and a half. If, after flowering, foliage began to fall from the plant, then reduce watering and place the sour in a cool room, where it will stay until the end of the dormant period.
It happens that the foliage remains on the plant, but it stops growing: this also indicates the need to move to a cooler place to rest.
That the dormant period is over, you will know by the appearance of new branches. When this happens, transplant the flower and take care of it as before.
Fertilizer for sour
In order for the plant to grow well, it needs top dressing. To do this, during active growth, complex mineral fertilizers are applied every 15-20 days, but taking into account that they need to be diluted twice as much as indicated in the instructions.
Oxygen transplant at home
Growing sour, young plants need to be transplanted every year. For adult flowers, this procedure is carried out every couple of years.
When choosing a container for planting, pay attention to wide pots that can accommodate more than one tuber or bulb. This is necessary so that the plant forms a bush, and does not grow alone.
A drainage layer must be placed in the planting container. In terms of substrate, oxalis is unpretentious, and you can simply buy universal soil in the store. The main thing to remember is that in too nutritious soil the plant will not bloom.
It is necessary to replant the bush very carefully, this is done together with the soil in order to keep the rhizome intact (except when you want to propagate it this year).
Oxalis propagation by seeds
In nature, oxalis reproduces by self-sowing, but when breeding it at home, this method is usually not used, due to the availability of simpler and more reliable ones. But if you want, you can try to grow a flower by seed.
To do this, you need to prepare a substrate of leafy humus, peat and sand (4:4:1). Sow seeds on top of the substrate without covering them. After that, the container is covered with glass to form greenhouse conditions.
In order for the seeds to germinate, in addition to high humidity, they need diffused lighting and a temperature close to 17 ° C. Also, do not forget to ventilate the crop every day and spray it with water.
Depending on how old the seeds are, you will get seedlings between 7 and 30 days.
Reproduction of sour by daughter bulbs
It is easiest to propagate sour by separating the daughter formations from the main root. Further, the material is simply planted, placing several roots or bulbs in one pot, and sprinkled with soil a little. After that, the container is placed in a dimly lit, cool place, sometimes watering the soil.
When the sprouts hatch, the pot is transferred to the light. And after 30-40 days you will already have a young fresh bush.
Oxygen reproduction by dividing the rhizome
Dividing the root is also quite simple. At the end of the dormant period, when the plant kicks out a young leaf, the rhizome must be pulled out of the soil, cleaned and treated with a light solution of manganese. After that, it is divided into parts, the cuts are powdered with charcoal and planted in separate containers.
Planted containers are placed under diffused lighting and watered as the soil dries. And from the 15th day after planting, they begin to fertilize twice for 30 days.
Oxalis leaf reproduction
You can also propagate the flower with a leaf. To do this, choose a plant at least 10 cm tall and with at least three leaves.
The leaf is simply cut off and placed in water. Over time, roots will appear, when they become larger, just plant the stalk in the soil. Water the young flower, and soon it will begin to expel new leaves.
Diseases and pests
In general, oxalis is not afraid of diseases and pests, but if you take care of it incorrectly, then the following outcome is also possible:
- Most often, the plant is attacked by spider mites, aphids and scale insects. . They fight against the tick with an actellik, destroy the aphids with a solution of soap or water with tangerine peels, get rid of the scale insects with an actara.
- With excess moisture, sour can get sick with gray rot or fusarium . Both ailments are disposed of with the help of fundazole.
- If your acid doesn't open the leaves , then, most likely, the problem is in care. Most often this happens due to the drying of the soil or when the air is too dry.
- Oxygen wilt most often begins with an excess of moisture, as well as with depletion of the soil . If wilting occurs in the winter and after that it sheds leaves, then this is preparation for a dormant period.
- It happens that sour leaves dry . This is usually due to the fact that it is placed in the sun and the foliage gets burned. Also, this happens due to dry air and too high a temperature.
- In addition, the leaves may dry because the purchased plant is not yet accustomed to new conditions. , you just need to wait until it acclimatizes.
Unlike other members of the Oxalis family, tuberous Oxalis does not occur in the wild.
Description of tuberous acid
It is easy to guess that the name "sour" comes from the word "sour" - this is due to the high content of oxalic acid in the plant.
Tuberous oxalis (another name is oka) is a herbaceous annual cultivated in the mountainous regions of South and Central America. The main value is edible tubers rich in starch. In our forests, you can meet the closest relatives of tuberous oxalis, but not the species itself.
Tuberous oxalis in the early stages of life forms an upright stem, which, as it grows, “lays down” on the ground. Tubers are cylindrical or ellipsoidal in shape. On their surface there are processes. The color of the tubers is quite diverse: they can be either white or yellowish, or purple.
Triple-fingered leaves of tuberous oxalis have petioles 2-9 cm long. The flowers of the plant are bisexual - they are collected in simple inflorescences. The corolla has 5 purple-striped petals.
The seed method of reproduction is not available (the flowers are considered sterile and do not produce seeds, therefore this species does not occur in the wild). Tubers are used to grow this vegetable. Less common are cuttings.
Oxalis tuberous is cultivated in the highlands of Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Chile - in these regions the plant serves as an alternative to potatoes.
The chemical composition of tuberous acid
Tuberous acid root tubers contain a large amount of starch. The plant includes in its composition oxalic, succinic, malic and other organic acids, as well as vitamins (C, A, P), carbohydrates, proteins and a certain amount of fat.
The use and methods of harvesting tuberous sour
Oxalis tubers are frozen and dried (in South America, tubers treated in this way are called “hava”). Washed frozen tubers are called "ohaya" - they are classified as goods of the highest quality. Okhai is used to prepare high-quality flour used for making desserts and cereals. The tubers are boiled, fried and stewed.
Useful properties of tuberous acid
Tuberous sour strengthens appetite, improves metabolism, provides hemostatic, urinary and choleretic, antihelminthic, wound healing effects.
For medicinal purposes, infusions, tinctures, decoctions are used. Tuberous acid preparations eliminate vomiting and heartburn. They affect the acidity of gastric juice, reduce blood pressure, save from scurvy, are an antidote for arsenic and mercury poisoning.
They are prescribed for diseases of the kidneys, liver, urinary and gallbladder. Oxygen is used for a tendency to bleeding, and is also used to treat gastritis, diathesis, cardiovascular diseases, stomatitis, and putrefactive processes in the oral cavity.
Fresh leaf juice can be used for atherosclerosis, stomach cancer, fever, heart neurosis. Fresh leaves in crushed form are applied to ulcers, purulent wounds, boils.
Growing tuberous acid
Tuberous sour is grown on loose, fertile, breathable soils. The plant gives good yields in good light conditions.
An excess of moisture immediately after planting prevents the formation of a deep root system. The accustomed plants are watered at the rate of 10 liters for every two bushes.
Organic fertilizers increase the yield of sour. Under favorable conditions, loosening and regular watering, the plant gives high yields of tubers (40-50 tons are obtained per hectare).
The collected tubers are dried in the sun - after that they are put away for storage (like potatoes). After drying, the tubers become sweeter.
Contraindications to the use of tuberous sour
Oxygen tubers are contraindicated in case of individual intolerance. Acid preparations should not be used for problems such as:
cirrhosis
Gouty arthritis
Tendency to convulsions
Renal and liver failure
Blood clotting disorder
Before using drugs, you should consult your doctor. It is important to strictly observe the dosage - prolonged and uncontrolled use of drugs can lead to kidney damage.
Tuberous sorrel is a possible alternative to potatoes. However, the taste of tubers is quite specific and not everyone likes it.
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Oxalis tuberous(oka) is an annual herbaceous plant cultivated in the mountainous regions of South and Central America. Most of all, the vegetable is cultivated in the highlands of Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Chile, where it competes with potatoes.
Tubers containing 25% starch, a lot of vitamin C, potassium and iron are eaten. Tubers, cylindrical, oval, white and yellow to purple, covered with fleshy scales, have a crisp texture and a pungent aroma. According to the level of oxalic acid content, two groups of tuberous sour varieties are distinguished: sour varieties and sweet ones.
The use of acid in cooking and medicine
Like potatoes, tubers are used boiled, stewed, baked and fried. Chuno is made from oxalis tubers - frozen dried tubers that are well stored and used as food after soaking in water. Bread is baked from chuno, cakes are made, bread is baked, sometimes pure starch is obtained. The leaves and young shoots can be used as leafy vegetables.
As a medicinal plant, the eye has many healing properties: it increases appetite, expels worms, heals wounds, lowers blood pressure, normalizes digestion, liver function - and this is only a small part of the medicinal power of this plant. It is not for nothing that tuberous acid has been so highly valued since ancient times. The plant exists only in a cultural form, it is propagated by cuttings and tubers.
