Passing by beautiful garden it is impossible not to pay attention to some amazing flower. And as a rule, the thought comes, maybe you can decide to plant a flower garden? A flower garden is a good decoration for the interior. When the day begins with good feelings, then the whole day begins with good feelings. minimal losses. For many, growing plants is a pleasant activity that provides positive emotions not only to loved ones but also to all neighbors.
General information about the plant sorrel or hare cabbage
The plant is native to the tropics and subtropics of all continents. Today, dense thickets of wood sorrel can be found in forests South America, Africa, Southern Europe, as well as in spruce forests middle zone Russia. Oxalis is a plant with sour-tasting leaves, which is also popularly called hare cabbage. And indeed, sorrel leaves contain oxalic acid salts, are rich in carotene, vitamin C and are edible... - “Hare cabbage”
This herbaceous annual or perennial plant belongs to the oxalis family, which contains about 800 species of oxalis. Today, some types of wood sorrel are cultivated as indoor plants: K. Deppe, K. Martius, K. Ortgis. The leaves are heart-shaped, alternate, most often trifoliate on long stems. Their color varies from green to brownish-red, with unusual patterns, sometimes two-tone. Oxalis produces flowers from April to October with regular five-petal or star-shaped flowers of various colors.
The flower looks ordinary, but has many unusual features. An interesting thing is that with the onset of darkness, during bad weather or in hot weather, the leaves gather on a fold running along the middle of the leaf and fall down. If you touch the leaves of the sorrel with your hand, it will also fold its leaves in a few minutes.
Oxalis seeds are also unusual. If you find a small ripe fruit of the plant and press lightly on it with your fingers, it will burst, scattering its seeds. This is because under the outer skin of the seeds there is a layer of cells rich in sugar. In mature seeds, the cells swell, the skin covering them bursts, and the seed can jump 1-2 meters to the side. In the natural environment, such cells attract ants, who take the seeds with them and thereby contribute to the spread of the plant.
The plant is 25-35 cm high, forms a stemless bush, with leaves located on long thin petioles, green in color with a purple-red pattern in the middle. Root system consists of a dark brown bulb and underground shoots. It blooms in August-September with raspberry-red flowers collected in an umbrella-shaped inflorescence. It may shed its leaves in the winter.
Growing conditions and care for sorrel
In order for the plant to feel great, it is better to place the pot in a well-lit, but not hot place, providing diffused light. The optimal location is windows facing east. If the plant is located on a windowsill facing south, then the pot with the flower must be darkened during the midday hours by covering the window with gauze or paper. If the plant is located too dark place, then the petioles of the leaves begin to stretch out, and the leaf blades become smaller. It is enough to change the location of the flowerpot for the flower to come to life again. In summer, the flowerpot with the plant can be taken out onto the balcony fresh air, but make sure that there are no drafts or direct sunlight. In autumn or winter, the plant also needs to be provided with good lighting.
In spring and summer period the temperature of the sorrel content should be moderate within 20-25˚C. In winter, wood sorrel begins a period of rest. The favorable temperature at this time is from 12 to 18˚C, depending on the species. For Ortgis oxalis, for example, 16-18˚С. In some species, the aboveground part dies off in winter (Deppe), then it is better to move the pot with the plant to a cooler place, but with sufficient lighting.
The plant likes to be sprayed with boiled water, but only in the spring and summer; it is not sprayed in winter. In summer, during active growth, the flower is watered abundantly, but care must be taken that the water does not stagnate at the bottom of the pot. Oxalis is quite sensitive to excess moisture and it is better not to add water to the flowerpot than to overfill it. Starting in autumn, watering is reduced. In winter, water rarely, limiting yourself to slightly moist soil conditions.
Some species of wood sorrel rest in winter (K. Ortgisa, K. Deppe). During dormancy (1-1.5 months), the plant is kept in a cool and dry place, and watering is stopped. As soon as the plant has its first shoots, it can be replanted and watering can be resumed. The flowerpot with the flower is again placed in a warm and bright place and after 30-40 days the sorrel should bloom.
The plant is fed from April to August (once every two to three weeks), during the period of its active growth, with complex mineral fertilizers for indoor plants. Experienced gardeners advise using fertilizers half as much as indicated in the instructions, so as not to burn the roots. The soil around the plant can be loosened a little to ensure good access to fertilizers. Thanks to the enrichment of the soil with useful elements, the above-ground part of the sorrel becomes greener more actively and the growth of the plant accelerates.
Transplanted young plant oxalis annually, adults - once every 2-3 years. You can put a thin layer of expanded clay at the bottom of the flowerpot to avoid constant contact of the plant with water, since oxalis bulbs and tubers are susceptible to root rot. The soil for growing oxalis should consist of peat, leaf, turf, humus soil and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:1:1. The soil should be light and loose. When replanting, the plant is cleared of old roots, tubers or bulbs, which promotes more luxuriant growth and flowering of sorrel.
Reproduction of sorrel at home
Oxalis propagates, depending on the species, by daughter tubers, bulbs (K. Deppe), cuttings and leaves (K. Ortgisa). Oxalis reproduces by seeds only under natural conditions. The bulbs or tubers formed around the taproot of the plant are separated and planted separately in the ground in quantities of 5 to 10 pieces, sprinkled with a small layer of earth. The flowerpot is placed in a not very warm place and watered occasionally. As soon as the first shoots appear, the flowerpot is moved closer to the light. After 30-40 days, the sorrel will become a fairly lush plant.
A leaf with a small stalk is cut off and placed in a glass of water. After 2-3 weeks, thin roots 1-1.5 cm long will appear on the cuttings. Then the plant can be transplanted into loose soil and after 1.5 months the first leaves will appear. You can also root cuttings in damp sand, covering the container with glass or plastic. As soon as the roots of the cuttings appear, they can be planted in a flowerpot several at a time.
Oxalis is rarely affected by pests. But if aphids or mites appear on the plant, it is enough to treat the leaves and stems of sorrel with appropriate preparations.
HouseplantsFlowers in the house: oxalis
Oxalis (Oxalis) has been familiar to everyone since childhood: it was interesting to chew the three-lobed leaves to make sure that its popular name is correct - “sour clover”. One can only guess about the nickname of the sorrel “rabbit cabbage”, but why “cuckoo clover” is still unclear. The botanical name "oxalis" translated from Greek means "sour salt" - the leaves of oxalis have a sour taste due to the presence of oxalic acid and vitamin C in them. That is why oxalis is added to tea instead of lemon and used in cooking instead of sorrel.
About 800 species of wood sorrel are known, distributed in South Africa, South and Central America, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Central Europe- These are a variety of annual and perennial plants. Oxalis include herbs, shrubs and subshrubs; some wood sorrel have rhizomes, bulbs, or edible tubers. Oxalis leaves consist of three, four, five, six or more leaflets; there are wood sorrel leaves without leaves at all - they are replaced by an expanded petiole. Many oxalis fold their leaves at night, in bright sun or before rain. Oxalis flowers are regular, five-petaled - white, pink, lavender, purple or yellow; they are usually collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences. The fruit of the sorrel is a capsule that, when ripe, bursts with a bang, scattering the seeds at a distance of up to two meters. Among the oxalis, there are also weed species and very decorative ones, which were introduced into cultivation in the 17th century and since then have been widely grown in gardens and as indoor plants.
The greatest distribution in indoor floriculture under common name"clover of luck" (considered the best gift luckily for Christmas) we received the following types of oxalis:
Deppei's Oxalis (O. deppei) is a perennial herbaceous plant with nodules from Mexico, height 25-30 cm. Light green obovate, notched at the apex, trifoliate compound leaves This sorrel is covered along the edge with purple-brown stripes. Collected in umbrellas of 5-10 pieces, crimson-red flowers with a yellow base adorn Deppey's sour, growing in bright room, all summer until late autumn, and with additional lighting in winter.
Purple oxalis. or boveya sour (O. purpurea, O. boviei) from the Cape region of South Africa with rounded, trifoliate, obcordate leaves and an umbellate inflorescence of 8-12 pink flowers on short pedicels. Purple wood sorrel blooms in late autumn and winter.
Red sorrel (O. rubra) from Brazil with thin green leaves on long petioles and pink red-veined flowers in few-flowered umbels.
The following deciduous species of wood sorrel are also grown in the rooms:
Oxalis Marcius (O. martiana), 15-30 cm high, has variegated trifoliate leaves with golden veins and purple-pink flowers collected in a semi-umbrella.
Oxalis (O. adenophylla) from Chile and Argentina produces small tubers and has compound leaves with 22 bilobed leaflets. The flowers are white with purple veins on the petals.
Oxalis (O. incarnata) from South Africa with creeping, slightly erect stems and light green trifoliate leaves, among which appear single lavender-pink flowers. This type of wood sorrel has spindle-shaped roots and tubers.
Oxalis have one very cute feature - their leaves close. like umbrellas when night falls or just cloudy weather. But if the day is bright, then the leaves of the plant open again towards the sun. Therefore, it is very interesting to watch sorrel when it stands in a room on the windowsill.
IN European countries Oxalis is believed to bring happiness. That’s what they call it there – “clover of happiness”.
Therefore, traditionally the peak of sales of sorrel in pots occurs there on New Year's Eve. Oxalis is given as a wish for happiness in the new year. It is believed that it will bring good luck if it changes hands on the last day of the year.
Indoor oxalis
As indoor plant(and as a gift for New Year) the most commonly used oxalis is four-leaf oxalis. It has green leaves with a red inner corner and cute bright pink flowers. It is recommended to keep it in a cool room and water it regularly.
Variegated sorrel is well suited for balcony boxes - it has unusual flowers, white inside, the outside of the petals are decorated with a red stripe along the edge, and their lower corner is yellow. Unopened flowers of variegated sorrel resemble cheerful multi-colored spiral candies.
Four-leaf sorrel (Oxalis tetraphylla) is a good gift for someone to whom you wish happiness and good luck.
Oxalis, Oxalis – Oxalis
Oxalis, or Oxalis, unites about 800 species of plants of the oxalis family. Natural distribution – South Africa, South and Central America, and only a few species are found occasionally in Central Europe. The plant got its name because of the sour taste of the leaves, which can be used as food by adding them to salads. The plant is also popularly known as “rabbit cabbage”.Since ancient times, certain types of plants have been consumed as food. The Indians specially cultivated oxalis and ate boiled tubers containing large amounts of starch. Oxalis appeared as an indoor crop in the 17th century. and captivated me with her amazing appearance and unpretentiousness.
Healing properties.
Common sorrel (hare cabbage): description, properties, use, contraindications, recipes
Thank you
After a long winter, it was the common sorrel and sorrel that were the first spring gifts of nature since ancient times. At the same time, our ancestors valued sour wood not only for its subtle sour taste, but also for healing properties, helping to cope with fever, inflammation and many other disorders of the body. Below we will consider in detail the properties of this plant, its benefits for the body, methods of administration and contraindications for use.
Description of the plant common sorrel (rabbit cabbage)
Kislitsa common, which is often called hare cabbage, is perennial, characterized by the presence of a thin creeping rhizome, from which long-petioled leaves with three heart-shaped leaves subsequently grow. This plant belongs to the genus Oxalis from the Oxalis family.Oxalis has a pleasant sour taste, and all thanks to the presence of organic acids in the leaves of the plant.
It must be said that the common sorrel is rightfully considered an excellent barometer, capable of predicting the weather: so, before the rain, the plant folds its white corollas and bends the flowers to the ground, but in cold and cloudy weather the flowers do not open at all, thereby protecting the pollen. The flowers also close at night. Oxalis also hides from direct sunlight, thereby protecting itself from excessive loss of moisture.
Such transformations are associated with changes in internal pressure (or turgor) in the cells of both leaves and petals.
Hare cabbage is used not only as a seasoning in cooking, but also as an excellent traditional medicine.
What does hare cabbage look like?
Common sorrel has trifoliate leaves and reddish flowers, which are located on relatively long petioles (the color of the plant is due to the pink veins present on the petals). In general, the height of the plant is about 5 – 12 cm. Upon careful examination, a yellow spot can be found at the base of the white corolla of the plant. The peculiarity of sorrel is the “eruption” of fruits, which, when ripe, can “release” small reddish seeds (this property is due to changes in humidity, leading to the shell of the fruit-pods bursting, sharply changing shape).
Where does it grow?
Common wood sorrel is found in Europe (in all its parts) and North America, in the Caucasus, as well as in countries such as Türkiye, China, Mongolia.On the territory of Russia, hare cabbage grows in the European part of the country, in Far East, as well as in Western and Eastern Siberia.
This plant prefers shady and humid forests, oak forests, alder forests, birch forests, not to mention areas located near streams and ponds.
Collection and storage
The stems, leaves, and flowers of wood sorrel are collected from May to June, and the collected raw materials are immediately washed and air-dried, but under a canopy. If the plant is dried indoors, the latter should be well ventilated. You can also dry the raw materials in dryers, the temperature in which should reach 40 - 50 degrees. Dried sorrel is stored in paper bags no more than a year.Purple sedum (creaky sedum, young)
Sometimes the name "bunny cabbage" is used to refer to plants such as sedum and purple sedum, but this is absolutely different plants and by appearance, both in generic relation and in medicinal properties. Sedum is a perennial herbaceous plants from the Crassulaceae family. This plant, which is also popularly known as “rejuvenated,” has fleshy roots and an erect stem, the height of which reaches 70 cm. The non-branching and succulent stem is crowned with a dense inflorescence of purple, lilac or pink color.
The plant blooms from July to September, while the fruits ripen starting in August. The fruit of the plant is a red or pink leaflet 6 mm long. The leaves of the plant can be used for food without processing, since they have a sour taste, and they also crunch a little on the teeth, which is why they are nicknamed hare cabbage.
The entire above-ground part of the plant is used as a medicinal raw material, which is collected during the flowering period, for which the leafy shoots and flowers of purple sedum are cut off. It should be noted that raw materials are dried in ventilated and always warm rooms. Sedum retains moisture very well and, therefore, does not dry well. To speed up the drying process of the plant by depriving it of its water-holding capacity, it is recommended to pre-boil the raw materials with boiling water.
Properties of purple sedum:
- diuretic;
- hemostatic;
- antitumor;
- wound healing;
- pain reliever;
- exciting;
- stimulating;
- strengthening.
- kidney and urinary tract diseases;
- pain in the intestines and stomach;
- pulmonary tuberculosis;
- catarrh of the upper respiratory tract;
- malignant tumors;
- sexual weakness;
- wounds;
- ulcers;
- boils;
- female infertility;
- nervous disorders;
- liver diseases;
- diathesis;
- childhood eczema;
- general weakness;
- epilepsy.
An ointment made from fresh sedum herb and pork fat is used in the treatment of bone fractures, lichens and difficult-to-heal wounds.
If you add camphor to such an ointment, you can speed up the treatment of various types of tumors, epilepsy and intermittent fever.
You can prepare a tincture from freshly cut sedum grass, for which the raw material is scalded with boiling water, passed through a juicer or meat grinder, squeezed and thoroughly filtered. The resulting juice is diluted with alcohol or vodka in a 1:1 ratio. The tincture is taken 30 drops three times a day, after eating.
In turn, sedum is used not only in folk medicine, but also in official Russian medicine as a biogenic stimulant. Thus, a drug called Biosed, firstly, stimulates metabolic processes, and secondly, promotes tissue regeneration. He is appointed as aid in the treatment of pneumonia, bronchitis, hepatitis and other diseases. In addition, biosed accelerates the healing of wounds and trophic ulcers, and is also used in ophthalmology and otolaryngology.
Important! The plant is poisonous, for this reason it is necessary to consult a doctor before using it.
Composition and properties of hare cabbage
The properties of wood sorrel are determined by the composition of the plant, the main elements of which will be discussed in more detail below.Organic acids (oxalic, malic, succinic)
Oxalic acid:
- helps increase gastric and pancreatic secretion;
- participates in the process of hematopoiesis, supplying the body with elements such as iron, potassium and magnesium;
- improves gastrointestinal function by stimulating sluggish bowels.
- eliminates constipation;
- improves metabolism;
- normalizes the digestive process;
- strengthens blood vessels;
- strengthens vision;
- promotes the formation of red blood cells.
Succinic acid:
- lowers cholesterol concentration;
- neutralizes free radicals;
- reduces adverse effects on the body medicines;
- promotes joint restoration by reducing the concentration of uric acid;
- calms the nervous system;
- promotes natural insulin production;
- normalizes intestinal microflora;
- improves reproductive functions.
Action:
- strengthens capillaries;
- promotes the dissolution of atherosclerotic deposits;
- enhances blood clotting;
- lowers arterial as well as intraocular pressure;
- reduces heart rate;
- promotes increased bile formation;
- stimulates the activity of the adrenal cortex;
- eliminates swelling;
- alleviates the manifestations of allergic reactions.
Action:
- protects the body from the action of aggressive pro-oxidants;
- prevents premature aging;
- reduces the risk of developing heart and vascular diseases;
- suppresses the processes of transformation of cells into malignant ones.
Action:
- stimulate the functioning of the adrenal cortex;
- reduce capillary fragility;
- restore normal heart rhythm;
- normalize the functioning of the nervous system;
- normalize blood pressure.
Action:
- strengthens cell membranes;
- strengthens the immune system;
- promotes tumor resorption;
- helps strengthen and regenerate the skin;
- improves vision;
- increases the body's resistance to infectious diseases;
- normalizes the functioning of mucous membranes.
Action:
- accelerates the absorption of vitamin E;
- provides synthesis of corticosteroid hormones, which are responsible for adaptive reactions;
- increases the body's defenses;
- relieves inflammation;
- resists germs and viruses;
- reduces the concentration of uric acid in the blood;
- restores normal cellular respiration;
- strengthens blood vessels and capillaries;
- ensures the growth and development of bone tissue.
Action of folic acid:
- participates in DNA synthesis and amino acid metabolism;
- increases performance;
- improves well-being;
- provides balance in the functioning of the nervous system;
- regulates the process of hematopoiesis;
- improves intestinal and stomach function;
- increases the content of choline in the liver, which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of this organ;
- prevents the risk of developing intrauterine fetal anomalies;
- improves appetite;
- normalizes sleep;
- reduces the risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer.
This carbohydrate is easily absorbed by the body and, transforming into glucose, helps the body produce energy, which is necessary for the full functioning of all human systems.
Properties of hare cabbage
- Antiscorbutic;
- anthelmintic;
- choleretic;
- diuretic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- wound healing;
- hemostatic;
- antitoxic;
- diuretic;
- antipyretic;
- cleansing;
- hemostatic.
The benefits of hare cabbage
1. Improved metabolism.2. Increased appetite.
3. Stop bleeding.
4. Acceleration of wound healing.
5. Elimination of heartburn, nausea and vomiting.
6. Normalization of gastric juice acidity.
7. Reduced blood pressure.
8. Cleansing the skin from acne.
9. Improving heart function.
10. Calming the nervous system.
Important! It is necessary to consume sorrel in moderate dosages, and long-term use of drugs from this plant should be avoided, since it contains a large amount of oxalic acid, the salts of which can cause irritation of the liver, kidneys and urinary tract.
Treatment using hare cabbage
What does hare cabbage treat?
Hare cabbage in the form of an internal, external and local remedy is used to treat the following diseases and disorders:- stomach cancer;
- jaundice;
- jades;
- heartburn;
- arthritis;
- hyperacid gastritis;
- diathesis;
- metrorrhagia;
- menorrhagia;
- atherosclerosis;
- diarrhea;
- arsenic and mercury poisoning;
- enuresis;
- ulcerative stomatitis;
- paralysis;
- boils;
- scrofula;
- ulcers;
- scurvy;
- angina;
- inflammation of the gums;
- worms;
- bronchitis;
- metabolic disorders;
- heavy menstruation;
- duodenal ulcer;
- fistulas;
- burns;
Leaves
Fresh leaves of the plant, previously ground with sugar, are used to prepare a refreshing and tonic drink, which also has a weak diuretic effect.In addition, fresh crushed hare cabbage leaves are applied to difficult-to-heal purulent wounds, tumors, burns and ulcers.
Grass
Diluted juice or aqueous infusion of the plant's herbs is used for rinsing. oral cavity, which helps strengthen gums, relieve inflammation and eliminate bad breath.Flowers
Small flowers of hare cabbage are used as an effective tonic, restorative, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing agent. Application of hare cabbage
Infusion
This form of oxalis preparations has diuretic, antipyretic and hemostatic properties. In addition, the infusion is taken internally as a thirst-quenching drink, which also helps cure diseases of the stomach and intestines. In the form of lotions and compresses, an infusion of hare cabbage is used in the treatment of wounds and burns, and in the form of rinses - for sore throat and gum inflammation.1 tsp 300 ml of boiling water is poured into the herb of common sorrel, infused for two hours and filtered. A tablespoon is consumed three to four times a day. If the infusion is used for rinsing, compresses or lotions, then a stronger infusion should be prepared.
Tincture
Oxalis tincture is used as an anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal agent. In the form of rinses, the tincture is indicated for ulcerative stomatitis, while warm compresses based on the tincture will help heal abscesses, diathesis and paralysis.To prepare the tincture, 10 g of raw material is poured with 100 ml of 40 percent alcohol or vodka, after which the product is infused for 10 days. The tincture is used mainly externally.
Rabbit cabbage tea
Hare cabbage tea has antiscorbutic, anti-inflammatory and anthelmintic effects, due to which it is used for the following pathologies:- liver diseases;
- jades;
- helminthic infestations;
- scrofula;
- stomach cancer
To prepare tea, freshly picked oxalis leaves are washed and placed in an enamel bowl, into which a glass of water is poured, the temperature of which is 85 - 90 degrees. Then the drink is infused for 15 - 20 minutes and drunk like regular tea. This tea can be consumed not only hot, but also cold (especially in summer).
Contraindications
Contraindications to the use of hare cabbage preparations are:
- severe kidney and liver diseases;
- disorders associated with blood clotting;
- oxaluria;
Recipes with hare cabbage
Infusion for diarrhea
1 tsp dry or 1 tbsp. fresh oxalis grass is poured into two glasses of boiling water, and then infused for two hours, after which it is filtered and consumed a tablespoon four times a day.Infusion for heartburn
One tablespoon of freshly picked leaves is poured into 500 ml of boiling water and, without straining, taken after the infusion has completely cooled. For persistent heartburn, it is recommended to drink two glasses of the product every day for two to three days.Infusion for diseases of the digestive tract
One teaspoon of freshly picked oxalis leaves is poured into a glass of boiling water, infused for one minute and filtered. Take two glasses of infusion daily. The same recipe will help get rid of worms if you take the infusion twice a day - in the morning on an empty stomach, and at noon.Decoction for kidney diseases
A tablespoon of dry leaves of the plant is poured into 400 ml hot water and then boiled in a closed enamel container in a water bath for no longer than 15 minutes. The broth, filtered through a triple layer of gauze, is brought to its original volume using boiled water. Take half a glass three times a day, during meals. Decoction for scrofula
Pour 20 g of sorrel leaves into 200 ml of hot water, and then boil for five minutes over low heat. The cooled and strained decoction is taken 30 ml three times a day.Common sorrel juice
Special attention should be paid to the juice from sorrel, which is used as an internal remedy for stomach cancer and heavy metal poisoning. Locally, the juice is indicated for scrofulosis and skin diseases.Before preparing the juice, the herb of the plant is thoroughly washed, doused with boiling water, and then passed through a meat grinder and squeezed. The juice obtained during this process is diluted with purified water in a 1:1 ratio, and then boiled for three minutes. The juice is taken 5 ml three times a day, during meals.
Oxalis juice is also an excellent anthelmintic, especially if diluted with honey. This remedy is taken one tablespoon three times a day, before meals.
The juice of the plant, diluted with milk in a ratio of 1:3, is indicated for diarrhea as an anti-inflammatory, diuretic and antipyretic agent. The juice is also useful for enuresis (urinary incontinence).
If the juice is used externally to treat arthritis, paralysis, abscesses, scrofula, a napkin should be moistened in it and applied to the affected area of the skin.
Before use, you should consult a specialist.Common sorrel or hare cabbage, as we called it in childhood, was loved by us for its sour taste. Everyone who saw it in the forest tried to chew it. It grows so beautifully in coniferous and deciduous forests, as if covering the ground with a canopy. Beauty, and that's all! Not everyone would dare walk on such a carpet - you don’t want to spoil the virgin beauty created from delicate light flowers. Flowers correct form with five petals, sometimes forked, white, sometimes pink or blue, with iridescent veins, nothing special, but very beautiful. The leaves of the plant are trifoliate, reverse-heart-shaped, which is why they have a sour taste. Already in May, this plant with a creeping rhizome begins to bloom, bringing diversity to the forest, which is unusually sad with its monotony. In bad weather, the flower folds up, as if hiding from the wind and rain - like this interesting feature. Oxalis is used mainly for preparing salads, cabbage soup, and sandwiches. Oxalis contains a lot of acid, so it is often used to clean dishes from rust or stubborn deposits, and to remove stubborn stains from laundry. Oxalis juice can remove ink from paper, for example, a deuce in a diary. Anyone who is familiar with this herb will never miss an opportunity to take advantage of its properties. Oxalis is also used in folk medicine, its above-ground part, and this is what we will talk about now.
Oxalis is sour due to the high content of vitamin C in it, which helps people with vitamin deficiencies. The first greenery that appeared in the forest is very useful due to its high content of organic acids and flavonoids. This does not mean that every herb should be put in your mouth, but sorrel is necessary. Oxalis will help lower fever, reduce blood pressure, normalize the acidity of gastric juice, increase appetite, relieve heartburn, help stop vomiting, and has diuretic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and blood purifying properties. A very useful herb!
Folk recipes.
1. In case of poisoning with arsenic, mercury, or to treat scrofula, an infusion of sorrel is used: for 1 tablespoon of fresh herb, 2 cups of boiling water, preferably in a thermos. Leave for 1 hour, drink ½ cup in small sips every 2 hours.
2. For liver diseases and metabolic disorders, an alcoholic tincture of sorrel is used: per 100 grams of herb, 100 ml of 40% alcohol. Keep in a dark container for 5 days, take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
3. For flu and fever, a decoction is used as an antipyretic: pour 2 tablespoons of dry crushed oxalis herb with 1.5 cups of hot milk, leave in a water bath over low heat for 30 minutes, cool, take ½ cup 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
4. For stomach cancer, a decoction of the herb sorrel is used: pour 1 teaspoon of the herb into 100 ml of boiling water, boil for 12 minutes over low heat, then strain, bring boiled water to the original volume, take 100 ml 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
5. For jade, an infusion is recommended: pour 1 teaspoon of dry oxalis herb with 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, strain, take 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day. Caution: take no more than 5 days, as long-term use may cause kidney irritation.
6. For stomatitis and putrefactive processes in the oral cavity, an infusion will help: pour 1 teaspoon of chopped herbs into 400 ml of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, strain, drink 1 tablespoon 3-4 times a day.
7. For stomatitis, rinsing the mouth with fresh juice diluted with water 1:10 is also useful.
8. For diarrhea, use the juice of fresh oxalis grass: mix a teaspoon of fresh juice with a teaspoon of honey
9. Fresh, clean oxalis leaves will help in the treatment of ulcers and purulent wounds. Just apply to wounds. It has a disinfectant effect and promotes wound healing.
10. For worms, steep 1 teaspoon of fresh crushed leaves for half a minute in 1 glass of boiling water, then strain and drink ½ glass warm early in the morning and at noon. A good anthelmintic remedy is sorrel juice. Mix it with honey (1:1) and drink 1 tablespoon 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
11.For enuresis (urinary incontinence): mix sorrel juice with honey (1:1) and drink 1 tablespoon 3 times a day before meals.
12. Externally, pure juice or mixed with alcohol (1:1) is recommended for rinsing for ulcerative stomatitis, and warm compresses with this mixture for arthritis, paralysis, abscesses, and scrofulosis.
A refreshing drink made from sorrel. In the summer heat, there is nothing better than a drink with a pleasant lemon taste, and preparing it is very simple: you need to pour in 200 grams of fresh sorrel grass, washed and chopped wooden knife or torn by hands, cold water and leave for 2 hours in a dark place. Drink with pleasure!
Common oxalis is a conspicuous forest plant. Features of wood sorrel, its photo and description. How is sorrel used?
Hello dear reader!
As children, we called this forest grass “rabbit cabbage.” I still don’t know why. “Hare” is even more or less clear. But why "cabbage"?
Common oxalis is edible and even beneficial in moderate quantities. Traditional medicine uses it to treat a number of diseases. The conspicuous flowers and peculiar leaves of the common wood sorrel greatly decorate the forest, especially in late May - early June. The plant is used by gardeners, just like its “foreign” relatives.
Interesting features of wood sorrel
Kislitsy in flora stand somewhat apart. Biologists distinguish them into a special family of oxalis ( Oxalidaceae ). In total, about 800 species of wood sorrel are known in the world. The most common in Russia, neighboring countries of Europe and Asia is our “rabbit cabbage”.
It grows in forests - coniferous, deciduous and mixed. In gloomy and shady spruce forests this is one of the few flowering plants, along with and . Oxalis can often be seen in ravines and along the banks of forest streams.
It is a perennial with creeping rhizomes. Interesting leaves on long petioles grow from the rhizome in the spring. These leaves are trifoliate and look a bit like clover leaves. But the trefoil of the common wood sorrel is formed by leaves with a notch at the top - they are called obverse cordate.
Somewhat later, flowers appear on long peduncles. The flower is quite large - about 2 centimeters in diameter. It has five petals, five sepals. The petals have pinkish-purple veins. This sometimes makes the flowers appear pinkish rather than white. At the base of each petal is yellow spot. Merging, these spots make the center of the flower yellow.
A pistil with five stigmas is surrounded by ten stamens with anthers. Five stamens are long, five are short. Stamens and pistils ripen at the same time. But self-pollination in this case is impossible - the pistil is one third higher than the stamens. Pollination of these flowers requires a visit from insects. Large, bright flowers, clearly visible in a shady forest, are needed to attract them.
However, the plant does not fully rely on pollinators that are rare here. Common wood sorrel and self-pollination are used. Only for this purpose does it form special, cleistogamous flowers. They look like unopened green buds, only a few millimeters in size. Such flowers appear later, in mid-summer.
In a closed cleistogamous flower, pollen does not spill out from the anthers. It germinates, forming a pollen tube. When the tube reaches the ovary, fertilization occurs. A backup pollination mechanism works in case cross-pollination does not occur.
However, two types of flowers are an interesting feature not only of the common sorrel. After all, growing in thickets of bushes also forms open flowers, chasmogamous – for insects, and inconspicuous, cleistogamous - for self-pollination.
Similar features of reproduction with the formation of cleistogamous flowers are also distinguished.
The ability of common sorrel to close flowers and fold leaves is interesting. This happens in bad weather. The flowers droop and close, the leaves fold and also fall down. The plant protects its tender parts from rain. As sunny weather sets in, everything opens up again.
But even in good weather, every evening the common sorrel folds its leaves and closes its flowers. And every morning it opens up to the sun's rays. Such a plant is a “sun worshiper”!
If you tap the leaves or flower of the sorrel with your finger, it will also close. This does not happen as quickly as with “mimosa” - yellow acacia. But sorrel works in a similar situation in a similar way.
The methods used by the plant to distribute seeds are also interesting. When the seed pods ripen, they open, as they say, “with a bang.” And the seeds are thrown to the side with force, flying at a distance of at least a meter. If we take into account the small growth of the wood sorrel - no higher than 10 cm - this is quite far.
Ants participate in the further distribution of sorrel seeds. She is, therefore, also a plant - myrmecochore. Like, for example, .
But this is still not enough! Seeds are able to move in space on their own!
Natural scientists carried out interesting experiments with oxalis seeds. If you put such a seed on a sheet of paper for visibility and breathe on it, the seed will jump to the side!
The air we exhale is always more humid. Apparently, when high humidity Tension arises in the seed shell, and it works like a spring. But in nature, air humidity changes constantly. A seed thrown out by a plant and not yet sprouted lies on the ground. But the air becomes humid. The result is a jump! And even further from the mother plant.
Oxalis “hare cabbage” was named for the sour taste of its leaves, due to the high content of oxalic and ascorbic acids. It also contains malic and succinic acids. However chemical composition Common wood sorrel has not yet been studied enough.
Uses of wood sorrel
Officially medicinal plant Common wood sorrel is not considered. But traditional medicine has been using it for a long time. For gastritis, liver and kidney diseases, an aqueous infusion of its herb is used. It is believed to have a diuretic and choleretic effect.
To prepare the infusion, pour one teaspoon of the herb into two glasses of boiling water. Leave for two hours and drink the infusion throughout the day in 3 to 4 doses.
For metabolic disorders, an alcoholic tincture of the herb oxalis is also used.
A stronger water infusion is used to treat festering wounds and tumors. Fresh mashed leaves are also used for this.
The recipes on the blog are provided solely for the sake of getting to know the properties of plants! You should be treated according to the recommendations of a specialist doctor!
The herb can be prepared for future use for medicinal purposes. It is dried in the shade under a canopy, like most medicinal plants.
Common sorrel is an early wild-growing vegetable. It is used in salads, placed in soups and green cabbage soup. Vitamin drinks are also prepared from the leaves.
One of the drink recipes is as follows.
200 g of fresh sour grass are washed with water, chopped finely with a knife, poured with cold water and left for two hours. The drink with a sour “lemon” taste is ready!
Oxalis can also be prepared for the winter. To do this, it is salted or poured sugar syrup. Vitamin C is perfectly preserved.
With all this, it is useful to remember that common sorrel is still slightly poisonous ! It cannot be used in large quantities for medicinal or food purposes. There are also contraindications in its application. These include acute diseases of the liver and kidneys.
Veterinarians know cases of poisoning and even death (!) of livestock - mainly goats and sheep - as a result of excessive consumption of this weed.
So, as usual, everything is good in moderation!
I hope that those who are familiar with the plant learned something new about it. Well, those who learned about it for the first time were convinced that the common sorrel is a truly interesting forest plant!
In the transparent spring forest, among the withered foliage, here and there, clearings of hare cabbage - oxalis - are brightly green. Once upon a time in childhood, we enjoyed eating its tender, sour, clover-like leaves. We probably didn’t have enough vitamins and nutrients in the spring. And there are a lot of them in this simple plant. A small bush of sorrel contains a large amount of ascorbic acid, which strengthens the immune system weakened during the winter; others essential vitamins and minerals. Judge for yourself: 100 g of leaves contain 93 mg of vitamin C, there is carotene (provitamin A) and rutin (vitamin P), oxalic, apple, succinic acid. Since ancient times, Russian healers have used sorrel for scurvy, removal of bile and worms, as an antidote for mercury and arsenic poisoning.
Crushed fresh leaves and lotions with juice are applied to ulcers, wounds, tumors as an antiseptic and wound-healing agent. Infusion and alcohol tincture of the herb are drunk for kidney and liver diseases, jaundice, digestive and metabolic disorders. Oxalis is used to prevent cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis. Rinse your mouth with water infusion to freshen your breath.
Latin name common oxalis
– Oxalis acetosella.
Species of the genus Kislitsa
(Oxalis), Kislichny family
(Oxalidaceae).
It is found throughout Europe, the Caucasus, Western and Eastern Siberia, the Far East, Turkey, China, Mongolia, and North America.
Blooms in late spring - early summer (May - June).
The stems, flowers and leaves of the plant are used for medicinal purposes.
, collected during flowering.
Other names. Oxalis (Oxalis) is translated from Greek as “sour salt”. It is popularly called sorrel, sorrel sorrel, sour sorrel, hare cabbage, cuckoo clover.
But attention!
In large quantities and with prolonged use, sorrel can cause the development of kidney and urinary tract diseases (due to the presence of oxalic acid). When preparing medications at home, you should adhere to the exact dosage.
Oxalis (hare cabbage) also has contraindications:
gout, salt deposition in joints, kidney disease, diathesis, tendency to seizures, gastritis with increased acidity, blood clotting disorders.
Traditional medicine recipes
For the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis:
2 table. spoons of crushed sour grass, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain. Take 0.5 cups with meals 2-3 times a day.
For metabolic disorders, hypertension:
1 table. pour a spoonful of chopped fresh herbs into 0.5 liters of boiling water, hold on low heat for 10 minutes, leave for half an hour. Then strain and bring the volume to the original volume. Take 1/3 cup 3-4 times a day with meals.
For heartburn pour a tablespoon of fresh leaves into 0.5 cups of boiling water and cool. Drink a glass throughout the day.
For worms
1 tsp. Pour a glass of boiling water over a spoonful of fresh oxalis leaves, boil for 1 minute, strain. Drink the infusion early in the morning and at noon. Oxalis juice, 1 tablespoon at a time, will also help. spoon 3 times a day before meals, maybe with honey.
For painful menstruation:
2 table. Brew spoons of dry leaves with 2 cups of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, strain. Take 0.5 cups 4 times a day.
For cystitis
infusion will help: 1 teaspoon. dry spoon or 1 table. pour a spoonful of fresh herbs into 2 cups of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, strain and drink 1 tablespoon at a time. spoon 3-4 times a day.
For flu and fever
2 table. Add 400 ml of hot milk to spoons of crushed dry sorrel herb and cook in a sealed container in a water bath for half an hour. After removing from the heat, cool the broth and strain. Take half a glass 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals as an antipyretic.
To normalize digestion
1 tsp. dry spoon or 1 table. pour a spoonful of fresh herbs into 2 cups of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, strain, drink 1 tablespoon at a time. spoon 3-4 times a day.
At different inflammatory diseases, diarrhea, enuresis
(urinary incontinence) take fresh juice of the aerial part of sorrel, 1 table. spoon mixed with honey (in equal parts) 3 times a day. Also juice in pure form or diluted with water is used to rinse the mouth for ulcerative stomatitis. For diathesis, abscesses, and boils, the juice is also used externally - in the form of compresses.
Common sorrel tincture
Pour 10 g of dry herb into 100 ml of vodka, leave in a dark place at room temperature for 10–14 days, strain. Use the tincture as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, wound-healing agent for inflammatory diseases of the throat and mouth (as a gargle), for minor wounds, scratches, abrasions, bruises, ulcers (for lotions).
Many healthy dishes can be prepared from sorrel
Oxalis leaves are good in vitamin soups, purees, and go well with green onions, cucumbers and egg dishes. Dry leaves are used to make powder for the winter; it can be used to prepare vitamin drinks and as a seasoning to give foods a sour taste.
A refreshing tea drink.
Chop fresh leaves and pour hot water, add sugar or honey to taste.
Oxalis salad:
Wash the leaves, chop them, mix with finely chopped cucumber and green onions, add salt and season with sour cream.
Green cabbage soup: 100 g sorrel, 100 g onions, 150 g potatoes, 20 g flour, 20 g butter, 1 egg, sour cream, salt, pepper to taste. Place chopped potatoes in boiling water, after 15 minutes add sautéed onions, salt and pepper, then add sorrel and cook for another 5 minutes. Place sour cream and a boiled egg on a plate with cabbage soup.
Oxalis paste:
grind 100 g of herb, add 200 g of butter, salt, pepper, mustard, mix thoroughly and use for sandwiches.
Dumplings: make unleavened dough (flour + egg + water), for the filling, chop the sorrel, sprinkle with sugar or mix with jam. Cook for 6-8 minutes, serve dumplings with sour cream.
Salted sorrel:
Wash the leaves, place in an enamel bowl along with dill and parsley, horseradish roots and currant leaves. Add garlic, black peppercorns and pour cold brine (1 tablespoon of salt per 1 liter of water).
However, let us remind you once again that sorrel should be consumed in moderation:
high content of oxalic acid and its salts can cause irritation of the kidneys and urinary tract.
Anna DOLGOVA,
