soursob Austral.
(ˈsaʊsɒb)
[Alteration of sour-sop, perh. in reference to the acid sap.]
A bulbous plant, Oxalis cernua, of the family Oxalidaceæ, native to South Africa and widely naturalized as a weed elsewhere, bearing divided leaves and clusters of bright yellow bell-shaped flowers; also called the Bermuda buttercup.
| 1907 Jrnl. Dept. Agric. S. Austral. X. 802 Can anyone tell me to destroy a weed called by some ‘Soursob’? 1909 J. M. Black Naturalised Flora S. Austral. 41 Oxalis cernua, Thunb. Soursob. 1961 Times 23 May 3/1 (Advt.), Biological control of several important weeds and pests of South African origin, such as cape tulip, spiny emex, soursob,..white wax scale and black beetle. 1972 Advertiser (Adelaide) 2 Sept. 5/7 Never have I met an Englishman who actually grew soursobs or oxalis or whatever they are properly called at home. |