garden pink-sorrel

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Garden Pink-Sorrel
• broadleaf wood-sorrel
• fishtail oxalis
• large-leaf wood-sorrel
• pink shamrock
• purple-flower oxalis
• Broad-leaved Sorrel
• Fishtail Sorrel
• Mexican Oxalis
• Red Garden Sorrel
• Red Sorrel

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acetosella violacea subsp. latifolia
• Ionoxalis latifolia
• Oxalis violacea subsp. latifolia
• Sassia latifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented within both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found spanning the territories of Germany and the Czechia-Slovakia region. Additionally, its range extends into Southwestern Europe, specifically within the borders of France. Consequently, these locations represent the primary areas where the medicinal plant is naturally distributed.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Oxalis latifolia is characterized by a highly adaptable distribution that spans a vast altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 3700 m AMSL. This broad elevational range suggests a significant capacity for physiological plasticity, allowing the species to persist in diverse climatic zones. Furthermore, the species demonstrates a notable affinity for anthropic areas (Área Antrópica), indicating that it frequently colonizes habitats modified by human activity, such as disturbed soils, agricultural margins, or urbanized landscapes.

Elevational range max:

3700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Oxalis latifolia is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. It functions as a cryptophyte, specifically categorized as a geophyte, which means it survives unfavorable environmental conditions by retreating to underground storage organs. Its deciduousness is variable, as the plant may shed its foliage in response to seasonal shifts or moisture availability.

Deciduousness :

variable

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Oxalis latifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This plant is a self-supporting species, meaning it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine. It is a terrestrial plant, existing as an independent organism rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant maintains a relatively low profile, with a minimum height of 0.15 m, a mean height of 0.2 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 0.35 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.35 m

Plant height mean:

0.2 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Oxalis latifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The vegetative morphology exhibits significant variability in leaf dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 33.1 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a broad spectrum of development, maintaining a minimum width of 1.5 cm, a mean width of 4.45 cm, and reaching a maximum width of 6.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogen from the surrounding soil medium to support its physiological processes and growth.

Leaf length max:

33.1 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

6.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.45 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Oxalis latifolia involves both sexual and asexual processes, with its sexual reproduction characterized by bisexual flowers. These green flowers typically range in length from 0.9 cm to 1.3 cm. The flowering period is highly variable, beginning as early as December and concluding around June. Pollination is achieved through a biotic syndrome, specifically via insects. In terms of fertilization, self-fertilization is noted to be absent. Once fertilized, the plant produces a capsule-type fruit that measures between 0.3 cm and 0.4 cm in width and 0.7 cm to 0.9 cm in length. This fruit is dehiscent, meaning it opens at maturity to release its seeds. Each fruit contains a significant quantity of seeds, typically ranging from 11 to 100, with an average seed mass of 2e-04 g. Seed dispersal follows an autochorous syndrome, where the plant utilizes an autochorous mechanism to distribute its seeds.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flower length max:

1.3 cm

Flower length min:

0.9 cm

Flowering time :

Dec

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

0.9 cm

Fruit length min:

0.7 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.4 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass mean:

2e-04 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

11-100

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

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

Leaf

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Chemicals

Oxalis latifolia has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Saponins.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

Saponins

1. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan

Preparations