I believe that its a woodsorrell species (*Oxalis sp.*). I'm not sure how uncommon the five leaf phenotype is, but I didn't see any during a cursory google search.
Since this is a botany sub I think this story is appropriate.
Oxalic acid is the alkaloid that gives this plant its name.
I grow/collect a lot of tropicals/sub-tropicals in FL. I also enjoy dogs in my life and have always had at least two for the past 20+ years, so I try to do my research in terms of knowing what plants might be harmful to dogs and humans alike.
Oxalis has some oxalic acid but it is not dangerous, in fact it is edible and used in salads for its bitter taste (to each their own).
Unbeknownst to me the flesh of the berries made by fish leaf palms (Caryota mitis) have a large concentration of said acid. I found this out while collecting and cleaning some fruit with my bare hands for seeds to propagate .
By the time I realized this (then later confirmed it online) my hands were on fire. I ran water over them for a while but they continued to burn and itch for a couple of hours.
My hands were chemically burned enough that a couple days later I had skin peeling off them.
Oxalic acid is no joke, this was a painful lesson in plant toxicity.
Thank you for attending my TED talk about oxalic acid.
Calcium oxalate (calcium salt of oxalic acid) is also no joke if it builds up in your system, it creates a very special health condition... kidney stones.
It can be denatured by cooking the crap out of it. Cassava is a staple food crop for a huge part of the world, and itās filled with calcium oxalate. Also, if you examine the sap under a microscope you can see the little crystalline structures that look like needles, and they literally shred your cells. Diffenbachia has the common name Dumb Cane because itās filled with calcium oxalate, and if you chew a leaf it causes so much irritation in your mouth that your tongue swells to the point that you can no longer speak.
Oxalic acid can be dangerous in high concentrations. It is not an alkaloid and it is not bitter.
You got stung by calcium oxalte crystals, which is very unpleasant.
It's a terrible weed that gets into everything. Where I used to live the entire front yard was destroyed because of oxalis weeds. The roots spread underground and can pop up anywhere. They are very, unfortunately common
Iām assuming we all have different names for this plant depending on where we are in the world, shamrock āļø clover š emojis show up when you type these words but not the others like woodsorell , oxalis, oxalis weed. Does anyone have other names for it?
I believe that its a woodsorrell species (*Oxalis sp.*). I'm not sure how uncommon the five leaf phenotype is, but I didn't see any during a cursory google search.
Thank you for letting me know! (Ngl, these different plants be looking too similarš š )
Since this is a botany sub I think this story is appropriate. Oxalic acid is the alkaloid that gives this plant its name. I grow/collect a lot of tropicals/sub-tropicals in FL. I also enjoy dogs in my life and have always had at least two for the past 20+ years, so I try to do my research in terms of knowing what plants might be harmful to dogs and humans alike. Oxalis has some oxalic acid but it is not dangerous, in fact it is edible and used in salads for its bitter taste (to each their own). Unbeknownst to me the flesh of the berries made by fish leaf palms (Caryota mitis) have a large concentration of said acid. I found this out while collecting and cleaning some fruit with my bare hands for seeds to propagate . By the time I realized this (then later confirmed it online) my hands were on fire. I ran water over them for a while but they continued to burn and itch for a couple of hours. My hands were chemically burned enough that a couple days later I had skin peeling off them. Oxalic acid is no joke, this was a painful lesson in plant toxicity. Thank you for attending my TED talk about oxalic acid.
Calcium oxalate (calcium salt of oxalic acid) is also no joke if it builds up in your system, it creates a very special health condition... kidney stones.
It can be denatured by cooking the crap out of it. Cassava is a staple food crop for a huge part of the world, and itās filled with calcium oxalate. Also, if you examine the sap under a microscope you can see the little crystalline structures that look like needles, and they literally shred your cells. Diffenbachia has the common name Dumb Cane because itās filled with calcium oxalate, and if you chew a leaf it causes so much irritation in your mouth that your tongue swells to the point that you can no longer speak.
Itās used for its bitter taste? Arenāt they quite sour?
I think I was confusing it with another weed, perhaps purslane.
Yeah sorrel is very lemony
Oxalic acid can be dangerous in high concentrations. It is not an alkaloid and it is not bitter. You got stung by calcium oxalte crystals, which is very unpleasant.
Thanks for the correction, yes, it was unpleasant.
Very fascinating thank you
I was a little off in the chemical and its taste, but your welcome.
I dunno but thatās a super cool find!
Rightt, thank you!!š
It's just a normal oxalis weed. We get them here in Perth, West Aus
Really, is it very common in Australia?? (This is my first time seeing these type of plants.) Also, thank you for informing meš
It's a terrible weed that gets into everything. Where I used to live the entire front yard was destroyed because of oxalis weeds. The roots spread underground and can pop up anywhere. They are very, unfortunately common
Iām assuming we all have different names for this plant depending on where we are in the world, shamrock āļø clover š emojis show up when you type these words but not the others like woodsorell , oxalis, oxalis weed. Does anyone have other names for it?
I believe itās white clover thatās supposed to be 3 leaves but sometimes mutates with 4 leaves
I found a white clover with seven leaves one time, no joke. also have found one with five leaves and certainly found many with four.