Photo taken on Jan 08, 2017

When I reviewed bulbs/corms/tubers, the pot with “Iron Cross” sorrel showed five accurate tunnels with the bulbs sleeping 6–7 cm deep.

Some time ago I thought that sorrel is, well… just grass. But when I looked at the bottom of this grass in autumn and winter, I found that it has not only bulbs but also huge carrot-like tubers under them. Top right photo shows the bulb-tuber half-way to final state — the tuber will contract completely soon. In autumn it was ~3 times bigger and longer; I would like to show that too, but during The Great Autumn Digging Out, there is no time for shooting. In autumn the “carrot” does not just dry up, it also shortens substantially (you can see cross-folds on the photo). Later the tuber will turn into a small, shrivelled tail, and the bulb dives deep into the earth.

For reference: this species of sorrel is native to Mexico, in our climate it can winter only at home. At the same time, in summer it can only feel right outdoors: behind the glass, it becomes weak and etiolated. In the flower bed and in the street pot it feels nice. By the way, the bulbs are edible — tender and juicy but usually insipid. You can munch the leaves and the flowers as well, or add them to the salad — well, if you found nothing better in your fridge and garden %).

four-leaf sorrel, four-leaved pink-sorrel, good luck plant, iron cross Oxalis tetraphylla