"Oxalis is by far the largest genus in the wood-sorrel family Oxalidaceae: of the approximately 900 known species in the Oxalidaceae, 800 belong here. The genus occurs throughout most of the world, except for the polar areas; species diversity is particularly rich in tropical Brazil, Mexico and South Africa.
Many of the species are known as wood sorrels (sometimes written "woodsorrels" or "wood-sorrels") as they have an acidic taste reminiscent of the unrelated sorrel proper (Rumex acetosa). Some species are called yellow sorrels or pink sorrels after the color of their flowers instead. Other species are colloquially known as false shamrocks, and some called sourgrasses. For the genus as a whole, the term oxalises is also used.
Tuberous woodsorrels provide food for certain small herbivores – such as the Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae). The foliage is eaten by some Lepidoptera, such as the Polyommatini Pale Grass Blue (Pseudozizeeria maha) – which feeds on creeping wood sorrel and others – and Dark Grass Blue (Zizeeria lysimon).
Oxalis species are susceptible to rust (Puccinia oxalidis)."
Taken from wikipedia's page at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O...
