20 
Dicotyledons with Polypetalous Flowers . 
Natural Order 
OXALIDACEHL Tab. 17. 
Diagnosis.— Herbs (or exotic shrubs) with radical or alternate cauline 
trifoliolate or pinnate leaves. Flowers regular. Sepals and petals each 5. 
Stamens hypogynous, definite. Ovary 3-5-celled. Fruit usually capsular, 
with a persistent central, but not prolonged, axis. 
Distribution. —A small Order, excepting a few species in the North Temperate zone and 
dispersed through the Tropics, chiefly confined to South America and the Cape of Good Hope. The 
only indigenous British species is distributed almost throughout the North Temperate zone. 
One British Genus ; Species i (and one or two introduced weeds). 
Leaves in some species of Sorrel (Oxalis) sensitive to mechanical irritants. 
Flowers in Wood-sorrel ( 0 . Acetosella) dimorphous ; the conspicuous petal-bearing flowers developed in spring 
are succeeded by minute hermetically closed flowers concealed around the root. Both kinds of flower perfect seed. 
Seeds albuminous, with an outer elastic fleshy coat, which bursts when mature. 
USES, &c. The leaves are generally sour, owing to the presence of oxalic acid. Two tropical arborescent species 
of Averrhoa afford succulent edible fruits, the Blimbing and Carambola ; and the tubers of a few species of Oxalis 
are esculent. Several species of Sorrel are grown in flower-gardens. 
