Indian sorrel

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• creeping ladies'-sorrel
• creeping oxalis
• creeping wood-sorrel
• creeping yellow wood-sorrel
• yellow oxalis
• yellow procumbent wood-sorrel
• Procumbent Yellow-Sorrel
• Sleeping Beauty
• creeping lady's-sorrel
• sour-grass wood-sorrel
• yellow wood sorrel
• Clover Sorrel
• Creeping Lady's Sorrel
• Creeping Sorrel
• Horned Oxalis
• Oxalis
• Woodsorrel
• Wright's Creeping Woodsorrel
• creeping woodsorrell

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Xanthoxalis corniculata var. repens
• Oxalis corniculata var. tropaeoloides
• Oxalis taiwanensis
• Oxalis corniculata var. langloisii
• Oxalis corniculata var. ciliifera
• Oxalis corniculata f. purpurea
• Oxalis corniculata subsp. purpurea
• Oxalis corniculata f. speciosa
• Xanthoxalis trinidadensis
• Oxalis corniculata var. taiwanensis
• Oxalis corniculata var. hispida
• Oxalis corniculata var. minima
• Oxalis corniculata var. glabrocapsula
• Oxys lutea
• Oxalis corniculata var. viscidula
• Oxalis repens
• Oxalis herpestica
• Acetosella simulans
• Acetosella corniculata
• Oxalis pilosiuscula
• Acetosella corniculata var. subglabra
• Oxalis radicosa
• Acetosella corniculata var. villosa
• Acetosella herpestica
• Oxalis simulans
• Xanthoxalis langloisii
• Oxalis steudeliana
• Oxalis tropaeoloides
• Xanthoxalis corniculata subsp. repens
• Oxalis tenuicaulis
• Xanthoxalis corniculata
• Xanthoxalis repens
• Oxalis urvillei
• Xanthoxalis grenadensis
• Oxalis uittienii
• Oxalis trinidadensis
• Oxalis albicans var. sericea
• Oxalis corniculata var. lupulina
• Oxalis corniculata var. purpurea
• Oxalis corniculata subsp. repens
• Oxalis corniculata var. radicosa
• Xanthoxalis corniculata var. atropurpurea
• Oxalis boridiensis
• Oxalis corniculata var. minor
• Oxalis corniculata var. reptans
• Oxalis ciliifera
• Oxalis corniculata var. trichocaulon
• Oxys corniculata
• Oxalis foliosa
• Oxalis corniculata var. pilosiuscula
• Oxalis corniculata var. macrophylla
• Oxalis corniculata var. repens
• Oxalis monadelpha
• Oxalis corniculata var. pubescens
• Oxalis meridensis
• Oxalis corniculata var. corcovadensis
• Oxalis norlindiana
• Oxalis corniculata var. villosa
• Oxalis langloisii
• Oxalis javanica
• Oxalis corniculata var. rubrifolia
• Oxalis jamaicensis
• Oxalis corniculata f. rubrifolia
• Oxalis corniculata f. tropaeoloides
• Oxalis lupulina
• Oxalis grenadensis
• Oxalis corniculata f. villosa
• Xanthoxalis corniculata subsp. purpurea
• Oxalis corniculata var. atropurpurea
• Oxalis corniculata f. erecta
• Oxalis repens var. erecta
• Oxalis repens f. speciosa
• Xanthoxalis corniculata f. erecta
• Oxalis corniculata rubra
• Oxalis corniculata var. javanica
• Xanthoxalis corniculata f. atropurpurea
• Xanthoxalis corniculata f. purpurea

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Oxalidales, it is a member of the family Oxalidaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Oxalis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the northern regions of Europe. In the northernmost reaches, it can be found growing in the landscapes of Finland. Moving slightly south, the species is also documented across the territories of Norway and Sweden. Its presence extends westward to include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's preference for Northern European environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Oxalis corniculata is characterized by a broad vertical distribution and a notable adaptability to human-modified environments. This species exhibits a significant elevational range, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 3400 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 2050 m AMSL. In terms of specific environmental niches, it is frequently documented inhabiting anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), suggesting a capacity to thrive in disturbed landscapes or habitats shaped by human activity.

Elevational range max:

3400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2050 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Oxalis corniculata are characterized by significant chromosomal variability, with recorded chromosome numbers including 24, 28, 44, and 48. Despite this numerical diversity observed across different specimens or populations, the species is identified as having a ploidy level of 2, indicating a diploid state.

Chromosome number :

24, 28, 44, 48

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Oxalis corniculata is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a therophyte, a life form where the majority of the plant's biomass is concentrated in specialized structures that survive unfavorable conditions, ensuring its survival across varying environmental cycles. In terms of its seasonal behavior, the species is deciduous, shedding its foliage during periods of dormancy or environmental stress. This combination of a perennial lifecycle, a therophyte growth strategy, and deciduous habits defines its rhythmic patterns of growth, dormancy, and regeneration within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Oxalis corniculata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial, independent plant exhibits an ascending shoot orientation and is self-supporting rather than being a vine or liana. The plant maintains a relatively low stature, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.01 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, resulting in a mean plant height of 0.1625 m. Additionally, the shoot length of the specimen varies between 15 cm and 30 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.1625 m

Plant height min:

0.01 m

Shoot length max:

30 cm

Shoot length min:

15 cm

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Oxalis corniculata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate and tropical herbaceous species. The plant exhibits non-carnivorous and non-nitrogen-fixing metabolic behaviors, relying on soil nutrients rather than specialized nitrogen-capturing mechanisms. Its foliage is defined by a moderate specific leaf area (SLA) with a mean value of 415.1 cm²/g, suggesting a balanced approach to light interception and resource investment. The leaves are non-succulent and vary significantly in dimensions, with a mean leaf length of 1 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 2 cm) and a mean leaf size of approximately 2.2078 cm². Leaf width also shows considerable variability, ranging from a minimum of 0.15 cm to a maximum of 2.2 cm, reflecting a flexible morphological adaptation in its photosynthetic surface area.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

2 cm

Leaf length mean:

1 cm

Leaf length min:

0.2 cm

Leaf size mean:

2.2078 cm²

Leaf width max:

2.2 cm

Leaf width min:

0.15 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

415.1 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Oxalis corniculata is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that are capable of self-fertilization. These flowers, which are yellow in color, typically measure between 0.2 cm and 0.9 cm in length and exhibit a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects for pollination. The flowering season is quite extensive, beginning in April and continuing through October. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry, dehiscent capsules as its fruit type. These capsules vary in size, with a mean length of 1.575 cm (ranging from 0.6 cm to a maximum of 20 cm) and a mean width of 0.3 cm. Each fruit is prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean length of 1.2 mm and a mean volume of approximately 0.67 mm³ (ranging from 0.38 to 1 mm³). The seed mass is minimal, averaging 0.00018733 g and ranging from 0.00009 g to 0.00025 g. Once mature, the plant utilizes an autochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed through self-mechanism or explosive dehiscence. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

0.9 cm

Flower length min:

0.2 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

20 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.575 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width mean:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

1 mm

Seed length mean:

1.2 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00025 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000187333333333333 g

Seed mass min:

9e-05 g

Seed volume max:

1 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.666666666666667 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.38 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Oxalis corniculata has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Natural product communications

Chemicals

Oxalis corniculata has 34 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid, Flavonoids, Cardiac Glycosides, Saponins, Steroids.

Flavonoid

1. Galen medical journal
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Saponins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Steroids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Terpenoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

5,7,4'-Trihydroxy-6,8-dimethoxyflavone

1. International journal of analytical chemistry

5-Hydroxy-6,7,8,4'-tetramethoxyflavone

1. International journal of analytical chemistry

Apigenin 7,4'-diglucoside

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Activities

Oxalis corniculata has 13 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Abortifacient, Antidiabetic.

Antibacterial

1. International journal of analytical chemistry
2. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening
3. Indian journal of experimental biology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Hepatoprotective

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Indian journal of experimental biology

Abortifacient

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antidiabetic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antifungal

1. International journal of analytical chemistry

Antimicrobial

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antiseptic

1. Indian journal of experimental biology

Bacteriostatic

1. BioMed research international

Cardioprotective

1. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Medicinal Uses

Oxalis corniculata has 19 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include wound, Alzheimer's disease, Aspergillus flavus, Bacillus subtilis, Citrobacter koseri.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations