Eating the stalks of clover, is it safe for my 6 year old?

My son and the neighborhood kids have been chewing on bottom of the stalks of the clover and call it "sour grass" . Is this really edible? I don't remember eating that as a kid. ( I believe its clover, it has mounds of clover like leafs and bright almost fluorescent yellow flowers)

Eating the stalks of clover, is it safe for my 6 year old?
Could he possibly be getting into Oxalis?


http://plants.usda.gov/java/imageGallery...


The oxalic acid in Oxalis gives it a sour taste... as long as he's munching minimal amounts, he's fine. It's similar to rhubarb (to which it is related) in toxicity.





I'd actually be a little more worried about toxicity if he were eating true clovers (Trifolium) http://plants.usda.gov/java/imageGallery...


some species can be moderately toxic. But on the whole, I suspect he'll probably tire of the taste long before he gets enough to do much harm.





Your local extension service or certified nurseryperson can probably tell you exactly what the kids are chewing on, and then you can talk to your doctor or Poison Control.





If you can get me a good photo (or preferably photos) of the plants, I may be able to help more with figuring out if your response should be "Argh! KIds!" or "Quick, where's the activated charcoal?" However, based on your description, I'm guessing he's chewing Oxalis. Tell him the flowers taste better, imo.
Reply:I'm living proof that it's safe....lol I ate it lots of times when I was a kid.
Reply:As long as there's no poo, pee, or pesticides on it, why not? When I was a kid, we used to do that all the time. And, I'm fine (I think).
Reply:Horses are very discriminating and they love the stuff.





Sure - it's not poisonous - but I would not encourage it. Treat the kids to some popcorn or whatever to get them out of this habit of foraging for food like a cow. (although it will probably go away like all fads)
Reply:Clover is delicious.horses adore it.it will nt harm your children as long as dogs ,or squirrels havent pooped on it.They could get intestinal worms i.e. pinworms from the eggs excreted by animals in their feces.
Reply:as long as no one's peed on it, the clover is healthy.