oxalis was RE: Prize Pest



Doxiadis/Malefakis wrote:
Oxalis pes-caprae is undeniably indestructible but somehow seems too
humble and too benign an opponent, spreading soft tender and lemony at
our feet in great swaths of winter brightness. (Besides, Janet, it adds
a delectable "tang" to the greens of our winter pittas here in the North
of Greece).........
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That delectable tang is due to non other than oxalic acid, named
of course, for this genus. This material is a a powerful rust and
soap scum remover and extremely toxic. It binds with calcium
to form insoluable crystals which rupture kidney tissue. It
is the metabolic successor of ethylene glycol, the principle component
of automobile anitfreeze, which indeed is even tastier than oxalis.

So, unless you have some need or desire for some more discrete form of
seppuku I'd suggest avoid consuming both Oxalis and antifreeze. <8)

Karl
San Jose California, where

Dahlia imperis' hundreds of blossoms are fading. Brugmansia and abutilon are
blooming wildly. Camellia japonica is stirring from slumber. Vicia faba are
poking about. Very atypically Lycopersicon esculentum is still setting
fruit!  Most
everything else is drowsy or sleeping.....
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