Oxalidaceae

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family of flowering plants known for their compound leaves and small, often colorful flowers found in various habitats
2. This group of plants, including species like sorrel and wood sorrel, is characterized by their distinctive leaf structure and edible properties
3. Comprising predominantly herbaceous plants, this family is recognized for its significance in traditional medicine and culinary uses

Etymology: Oxalidaceae is the botanical family name for the wood-sorrels, and its story is simply its genus. The family is named after its type genus, "Oxalis", which comes from Greek "oxys", meaning sharp or sour, a reference to the sharp taste of the leaves, which contain oxalic acid. Botanists formed the family name by adding the standard "-aceae" ending, used for plant families, to the genus stem. The name "Oxalis" was itself a Latinised form adopted by naturalists, and "oxalic" was later coined for the acid found in these plants, so the chemistry and the botany share the same root. The family includes wood-sorrels and the carambola, or starfruit, tree, which shows that a plant named for its sourness can also produce a sweet fruit.

Synonyms: wood-sorrel family