Scurvy-grass Sorrel
826720
208024212
2008-04-25T02:37:52Z
IceCreamAntisocial
346507
refine cat
{{Taxobox
| name = Scurvy-grass Sorrel
| image = Oxalis_enneaphylla.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Oxalidales]]
| familia = [[Oxalidaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Oxalis]]''
| species = '''''O. enneaphylla'''''
| binomial = ''Oxalis enneaphylla''
| binomial_authority = [[Antonio José Cavanilles|Cav.]]
}}
'''Scurvy-grass sorrel''' is a late [[spring (season)|spring]]- and [[summer]]-flowering, [[tuber]]ous, [[alpine climate|alpine]] [[perennial plant]] native to the grasslands of [[South America]]. It is a small plant that grows to 7 cm height and 10 cm spread. The [[flower]]s have an [[almond]] scent, and the [[greens (vegetable)|greens]] are edible but have a sharp taste due to their high [[oxalic acid]] content. The name ''enneaphylla'' comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] εννεα, meaning ''nine'' and φυλλον, meaning ''leaf''. The flowers are [[hermaphrodite]] and [[pollinated]] by [[Lepidoptera]] ([[moth]]s and [[butterfly|butterflies]]).
The plant gets its common name from the fact that, like the unrelated [[scurvy-grass]], its leaves are rich in [[vitamin C]]. Sailors travelling around [[Cape Horn]] would consume the leaves to avoid [[scurvy]]. This is illustrated by this extract from the Journal of [[Syms Covington]], who sailed aboard [[HMS Beagle]] with [[Charles Darwin]]. Here he describes the [[Falkland Islands]], and refers to ''Oxalis enneaphylla'' as "wild thyme":
<blockquote>
While laying here we found it very squally, and at times very cold. The island is in general mountainous. Not a single tree to be seen but there are low brushes with red berries which are very good eating. Here are bullocks horses and pigs that run wild, rabbits, wild geese and ducks and most excellent snipe shooting on the marshy ground and long grass, of which the island in general has very little else. Likewise There is the tea plant, which bears very sweet berry, and wild thyme which we used as tea, and is very good and much more plentiful than the former.
</blockquote>
[[Category:Oxalis]]
[[Category:Leaf vegetables]]
[[Category:Plants and pollinators]]
[[Category:Flora of the Falkland Islands]]
[[es:Oxalis enneaphylla]]
[[it:Oxalis enneaphylla]]