Oxalis crassipes - New Crop Summary & Recommendations 2008 Series: New Floricultural Crops: Formulation of Production Schedules for Wild, Nondomesticated Species Part of the requirements for Horticultural Science 5051: Plant Production II University of Minnesota
Taxonomy Scientific Name: Oxalis crassipes Synonyms: Oxalis rubra, Oxalis floribunda Common names: pink wood sorrel, sorrel, sour-grass, window-box wood sorrel, oxalia Family: Oxalidaceae
Geographic Distribution Continents: Native to South America Countries: Brazil State/Province/region: South-eastern half of the US Latitudinal Range: 25-40 Altitude: varies General Climactic Conditions: warm and moist Tendency to naturalize or become invasive: easily naturalized in certain areas
Native Habitat Habitat: woodland undergrowth, disturbed sites Plant community: Yarrow, bedstraw, orchard grass, black locust, scotch broom, jimson weed, Queen Anne s lace
Taxonomic Description Overall plant Habit/Description: Mounded Root System type: fibrous, dense mat Presence/Type of underground Storage Organs: Bulbs, rhizomes Leaves: Clover-like trifoliate green leaves, fold up when cloudy, rainy or night Flower: Pink trumpet, 5 petals, dark veins Season of Bloom: mid-spring to late autumn
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Medicinal/Other uses Use by Indigenous People: Used by primitive cultures as a vermifuge Other Uses: leaves and flowers edible, for cooling fevers (tea), as a gargle, can be effective against mouth sores or ulcers; as an ointment for cuts, scrapes, rashes, skin infections
Some Current Cultivars Alba, Garden Hardy White - white flowered cultvars. Garden Hardy Pink - a pink flowered cultivar
Product Specifications Crop Ideotype (ideal phenotype for the crop): proliferous flowering, hardiness in colder zones, more colors of flowers and foliage
Propagation Methods Vegetative vs. Seed: Vegetative If veg, Plant tissue source: Rhizomes, bulbs If veg., proposed propagation methods & temperatures: divisions
Market Niche- Identification and Justification Target sale(s) Date(s): March 17, March through June Potential Holiday(s) for this Product: spring, St. Patrick s Day Programmability: needs vernalization Crops with which this will compete on the market: different species and cultivars of oxalis Crop story : An old-fashioned plant that Grandma used to grow in a window box Will this ever be a major crop: maybe, to some it looks like a weed No initial crop limitations/problems Is this Product already identifiable to the growers and consumers? Yes, it s already on the market How soon could this product be available: Now
Anticipated Cultural Requirements Winter Hardiness (USDA Zones): 5-10 Heat/Drought Tolerance: Mildly tolerant Temperature (Day/Night): Rooting out 65-72, Growing on 55-65 F Light: Full Sun to Part Shade, long days Nutrition: Medium (150-200ppmN) Soil: Rich, moist to dry, not wet Plant growth regulators: None necessary, Sumagic, Cycocel if needed Container Size (through entire production cycle): 4-5 pots Disease Resistance/Susceptibility: no major diseases Fungicides, Insecticides: routine fungicide drenches
Production Schedule Estimated n. of weeks from planting to FBI, FD, and shipping: 6-7 weeks Estimated time, type and quantity of special treatment applications: none needed
Literature Cited The American Horticultural Society. Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. 2oo2. DK Publishing, New York, NY. California Native Plant Link Exchange. 2008. www.cnplx.info. Date Accessed: April 29, 2008. Herbaceous Plants Picture Pages: Wood Sorrel. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu. Date Accessed: April 29, 2008. Let s Go Native. 2008. http://letsgonative.net. Date Accessed: April 29, 2008. Niche Gardens: Oxalis crassipes. 2008. www.nichegardens.com. Date Accessed: April 28, 2008. North Carolina State Extension: Perennial Flowers Factsheet. 2005. www.ces.ncsu.edu. Date Accessed: April 28, 2008. Plant of the Week: University of Oklahoma Dept of Botany and Microbiology. 2002. www.plantoftheweek.org. Date Accessed: April 29, 2008. Proven Winner Certified Grower Plant Detail. 2008. www.pwcertified.com. Date Accessed: April 28, 2008 Sunshine Farm and Gardens: Glick Pick Archives. 2000. www.sunfarm.com. Date Accessed: April 28, 2008.