Another of the early wildflowers of the year, Violet Wood Sorrel (Oxalis violacea) is starting to flower in the woods.
Often mistaken for clover or even shamrocks, oxalis species are a common herb sometimes considered a weed in gardens. This particular wood sorrel is common east of the Rocky Mountains but is becoming increasingly rare and threatened in it’s northeastern range. Violet Wood Sorrel is listed as endangered in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Last week, I passed a patch of Violet Wood Sorrel and was surprised to watch a Zebra Longwing butterfly nectaring on the flowers. I never really thought of this species as much of a nectar plant, but when flowers are scarce this probably looks quite inviting.
Oxalis is also edible to humans. Check out last week’s post on Creeping Wood Sorrel for more information about this wild edible plant.
Learn more about this species
Green is starting to appear in the undergrowth of the BackWoods Forest Preserve as perennial plants clamber out from under the leaf litter. One favorite of this season is Creeping Wood Sorrel (Oxalis corniculata).
Rich in vitamin C, the leaves and flowers of this plant are edible and have a slight tang of lemons. The genus name Oxalis comes from the Greek oxus, which means "sour" in reference to the tangy flavor of the plant. This wood sorrel and many other related plants contain Oxalic Acid so a "steady diet of raw leaves," is not recommended. [1] If you have this tasty edible growing in your yard and want to experiment with eating it, lots of recipes are available online. A quick search for wood sorrel recipes found
As always, when considering eating of wild edibles, take care to make sure that the plant that you have is indeed edible. Many online and book references exist to help you identify your plants.
For more on this species
[1] Rombauer, Rombauer Becker, and Becker (1931/1997). Joy of Cooking, p.415. ISBN 0-684-81870-1.
Coat Buttons (Tridax procumbens) is a daisy-like weedy flower that is not native to Florida. This invasive wildflower spreads readily by wind-dispersed seeds and can take hold in unusual spots with little soil. This flower was recently observed growing and blooming among the gravel on the roof of the main MOSI building, just outside the glass stairway to the top of the IMAX dome.
The genus name, Tridax, means three-toothed and refers to the tooth like ending points of the flower petals. Although considered a pest, this flower is often visited by butterflies in the winter when other nectar sources have become scarce. This patch of Coat Buttons was found among the grass around a retention pond on the east side of the Backwoods Forest Preserve.
Caeser’s Weed (Urena lobata) is an erect and weedy invasive shrub that can often be found in disturbed sites of south Florida. Here in the Backwoods Forest Preserve we sometimes find this weed growing in open and sunny spots on the edge of the woodland or in the open grassy area near the sinkhole.
The fruits of this plant spread seeds readily especially with the help of humans and animals. The outside of the fruit has bristly hook-ended hairs that cling to hair, fur and clothing very readily. Please take care to avoid the seeds so that you don’t help to spread this invasive species.
Learn more about this invasive species at the IFAS website.
Florida Tasselflower (Emilia fosbergii) is a diminutive weedy wildflower. Native to the Old World, this readily seeding wildflower has naturalized in Florida and other southern states often traveling through the ornamental landscape trade.
On warm days, look for a variety of small insects taking nectar and pollen from these flowers. Bees and even butterflies can be observed visiting the tassel-like flowers.
These pinky purple beauties were found blooming near a retention pond at the east side of the Backwoods Forest Preserve.
