Biological Name:
Oxalis spp. (Violet-Woodsorrel)
Natural Habitat:
The Violet-Woodsorrel is native to the eastern United States, where it can be found in moist woodlands and along the edges of streams and rivers.
Description:
Violet-Woodsorrel also known as Oxalis is a plant that is native to grassland and prairie regions of North America. It is a perennial herb that can grow up to one foot tall and it has small heart-shaped leaves and small yellow or white flowers that bloom in the spring. The plant is known for its sour citrus-like flavor and it is often considered a weed in lawns and gardens.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is Violet Woodsorrel edible?
A: Edible parts of Violet Wood Sorrel: Leaves – raw or cooked. The acid salty leaves are eaten raw in salads and sandwiches or cooked as a potherb. Use in moderation, see notes at top of sheet. Flowers – raw.
Source
Q: Can sorrel be eaten raw?
A: If you’ve never tried sorrel, be prepared to pucker up. This spring green is packed with potent astringency and a lemony, citrus-like flavor. It bump up the acidic quality of salads (just use less vinegar or lemon juice), and is great eaten raw. It also cooks down quickly in a sauté pan.
Source
Q: Are sorrel leaves poisonous?
A: Common sorrel has been cultivated for centuries. The leaves are edible when young but toughen with age; they may be puréed in soups and sauces or added to salad. The plant has a distinct sharp, sour taste. It contains oxalic acid, which can be poisonous in high quantities.
Source
Q: Can you eat violets raw?
A: Violet flowers can be used to garnish salads or flavor vinegar and syrup. Pick them fresh for salads or freeze them while you continue to collect enough of the desired quantity for an infused vinegar or syrup recipe.
Source
Q: Is Woodsorrel a shamrock?
A: Plants called shamrock include the wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) of the family Oxalidaceae, or any of various plants of the pea family (Fabaceae), including white clover (Trifolium repens), suckling clover (T. dubium), and black medic (Medicago lupulina).
Source
Q: Is violet wood sorrel poisonous?
A: All parts of the plant have toxic potential, although the possibility of serious effects is usually limited to ingestions of large quantities. Consuming Oxalis species can produce colic in horses, and kidney failure is possible if significant amounts are eaten.
Source
Q: Is sorrel toxic to humans?
A: Sorrel is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in large amounts, since it might increase the risk of developing kidney stones. There is also a report of death after consuming a large amount (500 grams) of sorrel.
Source
Q: What happens if you eat wood sorrel?
A: This plant contains Oxalic acid, similar to rhubarb, giving it its’ sour taste, if you ingest too much of this acid you can upset your stomach.
Source
Q: Is sorrel safe to eat raw?
A: This spring green is packed with potent astringency and a lemony, citrus-like flavor. It bump up the acidic quality of salads (just use less vinegar or lemon juice), and is great eaten raw.
Source
Q: Can wood sorrel be eaten raw?
A: Yes, the entire plant can be eaten. Wood Sorrel has a tart, lemony taste and is added in salads and paired with fish. The plant can be steeped in hot water to make tea. Because Yellow Wood Sorrel is high in vitamin C, it has been used to treat scurvy.
Source
Q: What is Woodsorrel good for?
A: Wood sorrel is a plant. The whole flowering plant is used to make medicine. Despite safety concerns, people take wood sorrel for liver and digestive disorders, a condition caused by lack of vitamin C (scurvy), wounds, and swollen gums.
Source
Q: Does sorrel have side effects?
A: Wood sorrel is UNSAFE, especially when used when used in higher doses. Wood sorrel can cause diarrhea, nausea, increased urination, skin reactions, stomach and intestine irritation, eye damage, and kidney damage. Swelling of the mouth, tongue, and throat can make speaking and breathing difficult.
Source
Q: Does sorrel raise blood pressure?
A: Other animal studies have also found that sorrel extract could help dilate blood vessels to prevent high blood pressure ( 13 , 14 ).
Source
Q: Can you drink sorrel everyday?
A: Sorrel is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in large amounts, since it might increase the risk of developing kidney stones. There is also a report of death after consuming a large amount (500 grams) of sorrel.
Source
Q: Is creeping Woodsorrel toxic?
A: All parts of the plant have toxic potential, although the possibility of serious effects is usually limited to ingestions of large quantities. Consuming Oxalis species can produce colic in horses, and kidney failure is possible if significant amounts are eaten.
Source
Q: Is sorrel a detox?
A: Sorrel can be used as a detoxifying food as it is rich in vitamin C. Sorrel is an excellent diuretic and purgative since it contains flavonoids and other antioxidants. This aids in the elimination of toxic poisons from the body. Protocatechuic acid, found in sorrel leaves, assists in bodily detoxification.
Source
Q: How do I get rid of Woodsorrel in my lawn?
A: The two primary methods for managing creeping woodsorrel are removing established plants and controlling germinating seeds. You can control established plants with handweeding, hand cultivation with hoes and weeding tools, and postemergent herbicides. Try to control plants before they flower and set seed.
Source
Q: Where is violet wood sorrel native?
A: Native Distribution: Massachusetts and New York; south to Florida; west to Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and beyond our range. Native Habitat: Usually sandy open woods, banks, rocky ground, prairies.
Source
Q: Is sorrel an invasive plant?
A: Be warned: This is an aggressive perennial, considered invasive by some gardeners who see it as a weed, albeit an edible one. It starts easily from seed, and once established it can spread rapidly under certain conditions. Garden sorrel likes a damp site, while French sorrel prefers drier soil.
Source
Q: Is wood sorrel poisonous to humans?
A: Yes! Oxalis literally means “sour”” and it gets that name from its oxalic acid content. Lots of domesticated vegetables
Source
Q: Is wood sorrel invasive?
A: Creeping Yellow Wood Sorrel is an invasive weed. The most abundant of these acid-tasting plants is common yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta). A few species of wood sorrels have subterranean bulbs which are of some value to wildlife.
Source
Q: Is wood violet invasive?
A: The wood violet is a very small plant and can be overlooked when growing alone. When in mass, they can almost look like ground cover and can be considered invasive weeds unless highlighted and officially shown here as the state flower of Rhode Island.
Source
Q: What is the difference between sorrel and wood sorrel?
A: Distinguishing Features The leaves of this wild edible plant slightly resemble a shamrock. Although there are several sorrels, the wood sorrel is distinctive in that the seed pods bend sharply upward on their stalks, and the stalks also grow at a sharp angle from the main stalk.
Source
