Oxalis ordinary - what is it, where hare cabbage grows

Common oxalis (oxalis) is a herb that can often be seen in meadows and dense forests. This flower has medicinal properties and is therefore often grown at home. However, before planting such a plant, you need to familiarize yourself with its description and the features of growing at home.

Oxalis ordinary - what is it

The herb oxalis (Oxalis in Latin) is a herbaceous perennial that belongs to the Acid family. This plant has several different names. It can be called cuckoo clover, hare cabbage or hare sour.

Blossoming petals of common sour cherry

Many are interested in where oxalis most often grows. This perennial is quite widespread and therefore can be found in almost any part of the Eurasian continent. The flower is often found on the territory of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. The plant is also common in southern Africa and America.

The flower prefers shaded areas with humid air. That is why the oxalis plant is often found in forests with deciduous and coniferous trees. It can also grow on the banks of rivers or water bodies. Less common in hilly areas and in the mountains.

Description of hare cabbage, what it looks like

Before growing such a flower, you need to familiarize yourself with how oxalis looks like.

Height and shoots

This flower belongs to undersized plants, since its height does not exceed ten centimeters. The planted flower does not need a garter and pinching. It has rather dense shoots, the surface of which is painted green.

Foliage

Shoots of oxalis are covered with long leaves, the shape of which resembles clover foliage. After a decrease in temperature and the onset of unfavorable weather conditions, the foliage gradually droops and folds into a tube.

Dicotyledonous plant leaves

The surface of the sheet plate is colored deep green. Sometimes there are sour sorts, in which the leaves are painted in burgundy color.

Root system

The rhizome of the sorrel is creeping and rather thin. The roots are covered with fleshy, scaly leaves. The main feature of the roots of acid is that they are infected with microphycetes. It is because of this that acid is considered a weed.

Bloom

The plant begins to bloom at the end of May or the first half of June. During this period, small single flowers with a barely noticeable aroma begin to form. They begin to bloom in small axillary peduncles. The calyx consists of five sepals, colored purple.

Blossoming yellow acid petals

The corolla has five petals, which can be colored in the following colors:

• yellow;
• purple;
• pink;
• purple.

Fetus

The fruit of the plant is a small five-celled brown capsule, the length of which is 1-2 centimeters. Inside it are seeds that can later be used to plant a flower.

Useful properties and application

Not all growers know in what area the common sour cherry can be used. Quite often it is used in medicine for the preparation of folk remedies.

The composition of young leaves contains the following components:

• oxalic and malic acid;
• rutin;
• carotene.

Thanks to these components, medicinal products from sour acid have a healing effect on the human body.

Collecting leaves for the preparation of tinctures and decoctions should be done in early July. The collected leaves must first be dried in the sun. Such dried foliage can be stored for about a year at room temperature.

Dried Foliage - Most commonly used to make medicinal concoctions

It is necessary to use medicinal products from wild acid in the following cases:

• Cleansing the body of toxins. Regular use of freshly squeezed juice helps to remove heavy metals.
• Normalization of the digestive system. Decoctions from green leaves can help fight diarrhea, constipation and bloating.
• Treatment of diseases of the oral cavity. Broths from field acid can help get rid of stomatitis.
• Acceleration of wound healing. From the foliage of a flower, you can prepare a medicinal gruel, which has bactericidal properties and promotes wound healing.
• Elimination of helminths. From the dried leaves, you can prepare an effective remedy for combating helminths.
• Improving bad breath. Rinsing your mouth with freshly squeezed juice daily can help get rid of unpleasant odors.

The most common types of hare cabbage

There are many different varieties of common sour. However, only a few of them are popular with flower growers.

Tuberous

It is a fairly common plant that is especially popular in South America. Locals grow this acid lily along with potatoes. One of the features of the tuberous variety is its roots, which contain a lot of starch. They are used in cooking to prepare various dishes.

Dug up tubers of sour cherry

Outwardly, the tuberous plant is very similar to other varieties of sour. The trifoliate leaves are painted in a bright greenish color. The flowers consist of five pink petals. Tuberous variety blooms in late spring.

Four-leaf

It is a bulbous perennial flower most commonly found in Panama and Mexico. However, despite this, its cultivation can be practiced anywhere in the world.

A dark spot in the center of the leaves is a distinctive feature of the variety.

The four-leaf oxalis is a low-growing variety that grows up to fifteen centimeters in height. The leaves of the plant are green, with a slight purple or brown tint in the central part. In mid-June, flower stalks form above the foliage, on which inflorescences in the form of umbrellas begin to bloom. The petals are purple with a pink tint. The diameter of the flowers is 2-3 centimeters.

Triangular red

This red oxalis is considered a heat-loving plant that is ideal for growing at home. The height of the bush reaches 15-17 centimeters. Triangular oxalis is distinguished by large foliage, with an inhomogeneous color. The edges of the leaf plates are colored dark purple.In the central part, the color is lighter.

Rozhkovaya

This is a stunted herb that is distinguished by its vitality. It is resistant to frost and drought. Also, the plant rarely gets sick and is attacked by pests.

Carob oxalis blooms, like most other varieties, in late spring or early summer. The petals are cherry-colored with a slight brownish tint. The leaves bloom singly or in small groups of 2-3 pieces.

Reddish leaves of carob sour - one of the features of the variety

Variegated

Variegated oxalis oxalis is a variety used only for indoor cultivation. It is better not to grow such flowers outdoors, as they do not tolerate frost well.

A bush grows up to 10-12 centimeters in height. It blooms in spring or early summer. Duration of flowering variegated sour sorrel with yellow flowers is 2-3 months.

Decorative use

There are quite a few varieties of sorrel, and therefore it is often used to decorate rooms and garden plots.

This plant is very convenient for decorative purposes, as it grows quickly and covers the ground cover. The seeds of the sorrel are carried by ants and therefore sometimes you do not even have to deal with planting a flower, since it grows throughout the entire site on its own.

To decorate a flower bed or garden plot, sour cherry must be planted along with other flowers. Since it is short, it should be planted in the first tier. Behind it, you can place any medium-sized or tall flowers that bloom with bright flowers.

Cultivation and reproduction

In order for the oxalis berry to grow without problems, you need to familiarize yourself with the nuances of its cultivation and reproduction.

Reproduction

There are three main breeding methods that are most often used by flower growers:

• Seeds. Wild acid lice reproduce with the help of seeds. However, flower growers use this method not so often, since seedlings germinate slowly. In order for them to grow faster, they must be soaked in a growth stimulator for one and a half weeks before planting. Only then can the germinated seeds be planted in a pot for germinating seedlings.
• Bulbs. This method is used more often than seed. With its help, you can grow a flower many times faster. In this case, flower bulbs are used for planting, which are formed near the root shaft. The tubers planted in the ground are germinated in a pot for 3-4 weeks, after which the plant is transplanted into the open ground.
• Tubers. Some growers prefer to plant the plant with tubers. This is done very carefully so as not to accidentally damage anything. First, the tuber is removed from the pot, after which it is soaked in a manganese solution for 3-4 hours. Then the tuber is carefully divided into several parts and transplanted.

Separated tubers for further transplanting

Care

There are several procedures that must be performed while caring for planted flowers:

• Watering. During the growing season, special attention should be paid to watering, since without a sufficient amount of moisture, oxalis may not bloom. Moistening the soil should be done every other day. In this case, you should not use too much liquid, as waterlogging of the soil can harm the flower.
• Humidity. If oxalis is grown indoors near heating appliances, it will have to be additionally moistened. To do this, you need to spray the leaves with water. This is done no more than once every 2-3 days.
• Top dressing. It is recommended to fertilize the flower regularly so that it develops normally. For top dressing, mineral fertilizers are used, which contain phosphorus and nitrogen.The first fertilization is done in mid-April.
• Lighting. The duration of daylight hours for acid must not be less than 12 hours. Therefore, if the plants are grown in a room, you need to take care of additional lighting. It may be needed during the winter.
• Temperature conditions. The flower grows best at temperatures of +20 .. + 25 degrees Celsius. If it is too hot in summer, you will have to air the room.

Peat is the best top dressing for common sour sorrel

Oxalis is a compact plant that is often grown to decorate the garden. Before you start growing such a flower, you need to familiarize yourself with the description of the common sour cherry, with its varieties and recommendations for caring for the planted plant.