Oxalis alpina is a herbaceous perennial plant also known by its common name alpine woodsorrel. It is a species belonging to the genus Oxalis. O. alpina is found in North America and Central America from Guatemala to the southwestern United States.
Taxonomy
Different classifications of Oxalis alpina exist. It is a species in the genus Oxalis, but some also classify it as being part of the Ionoxalis section in the genus Oxalis. Synonyms for Oxalis alpina include Ionoxalis alpina Rose, Ionoxalis metcalfei Small, Ionoxalis monticola Small, Oxalis metcalfei (Small) Knuth., Oxalis bulbosa A. Nelson, and Oxalis monticola Small. The species was first described by Reinhard Gustav Paul Knuth and Joseph Nelson Rose in 1919.
The name Oxalis comes from the Greek word "oxys," meaning sharp or sour, which is in reference to its oxalic acid content that gives it a sour flavour. The specific epithet alpina means "alpine," reflecting its habitat range.
Etymology
The name Oxalis comes from the Greek word "oxys," meaning sharp or sour, which is in reference to its oxalic acid content that gives it a sour flavour. The specific epithet alpina means "alpine," reflecting its habitat range.
