Oxalis montana - (image 1 of 3)
Taxonomy
Family: Oxalidaceae
Habitat
Rich, moist woods. Commonly in spruce-fir woods.
Associates
Distribution
Quebec to NY, MI, WI, and Saskatchewan, south to NC and TN at higher elevation.
Morphology
Perennial from a slender, scaly rhizome. Leaves all basal, trifoliate, on long petioles; leaflets obcordate, sparsely pilose. Flowers solitary on peduncles 6-12 cm long, slightly surpassing the leaves; petals mostly white with pink veins, 10-15 mm, shallowly notched at the apex.
Notes
Flowers May to July; cleistogamous flowers produced late in the season on short, recurved peduncles.
Wetland indicator: Facultative Upland
Some authorities include this species with O. acetosella L., which is widely distributed in Eurasia. The leaves are edible, sour and rich in vitamin C, but may inhibit calcium absorption if eaten in quantity over a long period of time.
References
Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY
Peterson, L. A. 1977. A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern and central North America.
Houghton Mifflin Company. New York, NY
Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
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Michael Hough © 2009 |