Oxalis barrelieri L.

Description:

Kampung Hutan Kampung, Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia.Oxalis barrelieri L. Oxalidaceae. CN: [Malay - Belimbing pasir, Belimbing bukit, Tongkong], Lavender sorrel, Barrelier's woodsorrel. Native to West Indies, Central and South America. Elsewhere naturalized pan-tropically. An erect herb 20-150 cm high; indument composed of whitish, eseptate hairs, sometimes sparse but apparent on stems, petioles, and lower surfaces of leaflet blades; leaves pinnately 3-foliolate, the petiole 1.5-3.5 cm long, continued into a rachis 5-10 mm long below terminal leaflet, the leaflet blades elliptic to oblong, up to 3.5 x 2.5 cm (terminal one the largest), obtuse or rounded at apex; petals (to 9 x 3.5 mm) pink except toward the greenish or yellowish base; capsules ovoid, 5-10 x 2-5 mm, 5-angled, with 2-4 seeds per locule. Small fruit which upon touching ruptures, ejecting the minute seeds. Weed and also used as folk medicine by natives for the treatment of high blood pressure, piles, diabetes, kidney ailments.Synonyms:Oxalis bahiensis Micr.Ref and suggested reading:www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?447742en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalis_barrelieriwww.hear.org/pier/species/oxalis_barrelieri.htm