Pink Woodsorrel (Oxalis debilis)
Description
Oxalis debilis, the large-flowered pink-sorrel or pink woodsorrel, is a perennial plant and herb in the Oxalidaceae family. Its original distribution is South America but has become a very cosmopolitan species, occurring in all continents except Antarctica. It can be found in both temperate and tropical areas. The flowers, leaves and roots are edible, but this plant should only be consumed in small amounts because it contains oxalic acid that can cause calcium deficiency if eaten in larger amounts.The leaves have a sour lemony flavor. It is a bulbous plant. The fruit is a capsule. The seeds are projected, with an elastic integument. In Europe the plants are sterile and are propagating only by bulbs. Research on the naturalizing populations in China show the presence of 2 flower morphs, pollen with low viability and polyploidy.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Oxalidales
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Family: Oxalidaceae
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Genus: Oxalis
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