Oxalis Acetosella
Oxalis Acetosella
The wood sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella L., 1753) is a herbaceous species belonging to the Oxalidaceae family.
Systematic –
From the systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Spermatophyta Superdivision,
Magnoliophyta division,
Magnoliopsida class,
Rosidae subclasses,
Geraniales order,
Oxalidaceae family,
Genus oxalis,
Species O. Shamrock.
The term is synonymous:
– Oxalis Montana Raf ..
Etymology –
The name of the genus (Oxalis) is derived from the greek oxys (acute or stinging) for the sour taste of the plant and hals (salt) for the high amount of oxalic acid.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
The type Chorological dell’Oxalis sorrel is defined as “Circumboreal”, so it is a typical plant of the cold temperate zones dell’Eurosiberia and North America.
In Italy it is mostly in shady areas (forests) and humid, but also with particular concentration in northern foothills. Vegeta the plan up to 2000 m s.l.m. It not found in islands and coastal areas.
Elsewhere is present in Europe, Asia (to Japan) and North America. It prefers fertile soil rich in humus but also woodland (hornbeam and beech) and still exposed to the north. It does not need a lot of light, so it is defined as sciaphilous plant.
Description –
The common name of the plant (sorrel) comes from the sour taste (but also bitter) the leaves used in ancient times as a condiment for salads and reminiscent of the vinegar.
Vulgarly is called Agretta, Lambrusca, Melagra, Juliola, Salicchia, Pentecost, Grass low abrupt, and everywhere in our deciduous and coniferous forest belt covers the earth with its light green leaves and its delicate white flowers. If you perceive the aspect as extremely pleasurable.
Cultivation –
The ideal soil for the sorrel plant should be light, it adapts well to almost all types of soil, especially prefer those poor football.
The ideal exposure for the sorrel plant is in partial shade.
The sowing is carried out in about 1cm deep furrows, the seeds should be spaced about 25cm from one another and between the rows, they should be collected in a number of 2-3 and covered with a thin layer of earth.
The planting of seedlings is carried out in the spring, at the same time you can also carry out the sowing.
The multiplication of the sorrel plant can be carried out by division in spring or by seed in late spring.
The collection can be carried out in summer, collecting the leaves and roots.
Customs and traditions –
The wood sorrel should not be dried but only endeavored fresh. It takes away the acidity of the stomach and mild discomfort to the liver and digestion. Against these disorders the tea should be sipped cold because of two cups per day. Against jaundice, nephritis, the outpourings of the skin and the worms the savoring rather hot. Shamrock folk medicine recommends fresh squeezed juice to ‘beginning of a stomach cancer, cancerous against internal and external ulcers and cancers.
The juice is obtained with the aid of the electric centrifuge to domestic use. Every time you drink from three to five drops diluted in water or herbal tea. On the outer cancerous ulcer fresh juice to be smeared directly.
Against Parkinson’s disease, the juice, three to five drops per hour, is ingested with an infusion of yarrow and applied externally as a clutch of the spine. We must conscientiously follow the instructions regarding the dilution and dosage when it comes to stomach cancer, cancerous ulcers and shaking palsy.
Method of preparation –
Herbal tea: Boil 1/2 liter of water with a tablespoon of fresh leaves and let it rest briefly.
Fresh juice: Wash the leaves and squeeze them with an electric centrifugal household.
Guido Bissanti
Sources
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Treben M., 2000. The Health from the Pharmacy of the Lord, tips and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Publisher
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
Please note: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgici uses are indicated for information purposes only, do not represent in any way a medical prescription; it accepts no liability on their use for therapeutic purposes, cosmetic or food.