re:herb

[vivekmail]

herb with beautiful heart shaped leaves. identity?

vivek gharpure
aurangabad, india

[Susmita Basu]

it is Oxalis corninulata. There would be small (around 5 mm) yellow flowers and bhendi-like smalll capsules.

 

[Pankaj Oudhia]

Here are links on traditional medicinal uses of Oxalis

http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&pwst=1&q=+site:www.botanical.com+oxalis+oudhia

http://ecoport.org/ep?Plant=8178&entityType=PL****&entityDisplayCategory=eArticles

http://ecoport.org/ep?Plant=8178&entityType=PL****&entityDisplayCategory=Interactive_Tables

Pankaj Oudhia

[J.M. Garg]

Here is a link for its flowering picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Oxalis.corniculata.7562.JPG & here are some extracts from Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalis_corniculata

Description

Creeping Woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata) [Not to be confused with Yellow Woodsorrel, or Oxalis stricta], is a somewhat delicate-appearing, low-growing, herbaceous plant in the family Oxalidaceae. It has a narrow, creeping stem that readily roots at the nodes. The trifoliate leaves are subdivided into three rounded leaflets and resemble a clover in shape. Some varieties have green leaves, while others have purple leaves, like the Oxalis corniculata var. atropurpurea shown here. The leaves have inconspicuous stipules at the base of each petioles.

The fruit is a narrow, cylindrical capsule, 1 to 2 cm long and noteworthy for its explosive discharge of the contained, 1 mm long seeds.

Distribution

This species is cosmopolitan in its distribution, and its place of origin is unknown. It is regarded as weed in gardens,^[1] agricultural fields, and lawns.^{[citation needed]}

Uses

The leaves of wood sorrel are quite edible, with a tangy taste. A drink can be made by infusing the leaves in hot water for about 10 minutes, sweetening and then chilling.^[2] The entire plant is rich in Vitamin C. Although any wood sorrel is safe in low dosages, it must be noted that if eaten in large quantities over a length of time it can inhibit calcium absorption by the body.^[2]

For my Birds, Butterflies, Trees, Landscape pictures etc., visit http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/J.M.Garg