Oxalis acetosella L.

Perennials 8-15 cm tall, stemless. Rhizome creeping under-ground, slender, mostly covered with fleshy pale brown scalelike remains of leaf bases, ca. 1 mm thick not including scales, ca. 3 mm thick including scales; scales pale brown, sparsely strigose. Petiole 3-15 cm; leaflet blades obcordate, 0.5-2 × 0.8-3 cm, apex deeply emarginate; lobe apices rounded. Flowers solitary, nodding; peduncle as long as or longer than leaves; bracts at middle of flowering stalk, lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, with trichomes around apex. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, persistent. Petals white, lilac to pinkish veined, obovate, (1.2-)1.5-2.2 cm, apex retuse to deeply emarginate. Capsule angular-ovoid, 3-4 mm. Seeds light brown, ovoid, longitudinally ridged. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 22.

It is native to northern temperate regions. It grows in damp and shady places. It is often on forest floors. In Pakistan it grows in shady places between 1,200-2,500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 3-10. In Yunnan.

The leaves are added to salads. They are also used in soups and sauces. The dried leaves are used for tea. CAUTION: Because the leaves contain oxalic acid they should be eaten cautiously or cooked in several changes of water. The leaves can be used to curdle sheep's milk.

Can be grown by divisions or seedlings.