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Oxalis corniculata L.

Creeping woodsorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel, sleeping beauty, creeping wood sorrel

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderGeranialesBalsams, mustards, geraniums, wood sorrels, nasturtiums, others
FamilyOxalidaceaeWood sorrels
GenusOxalisWood sorrels (Oxalis means “sour”)
SpeciescorniculataHorned.

About plant names...

Creeping woodsorrel is either native to or naturalized in North America. They are common, preferring waste places, lawns, and gardens.

Plants: Plants are low-growing, prostrate, up to 4″ (10 cm), and rather delicate and vulnerable-looking. It spreads by producing creeping, horizontal stems (stolons) up to 12″ (30 cm) long.

Leaves: Trifoliate, with three rounded heart-shaped leaflets, like clover. They fold up like miniature parasols when there is little sun. Leaves are purple-green or dark purple, and somewhat hairy, especially along leaf margins. Leaves are ⅛-⅜″ (6-10 mm) × ⅛-⅞″ (4-25 mm). Leafs stalks are longer than in most plants, up to 2½″ (7 cm).

Flowers: Flowers are bright yellow, with five petals, in clusters of 2-7, ⅛-½″ (3.2-12 mm) around, appearing from June to September. Flower stalks are erect or ascending.

Fruits: Narrow, cylindrical capsules, ⅛-1″ (6-28 mm) long. When it dries it “explodes,” spreading is 1/32″ (1 mm) seeds.

These are closely similar (see also this comparison):

 

Oxalis corniculata (creeping woodsorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel, sleeping beauty, creeping wood sorrel)

7/15/2012 · Fort Point State Park, Stockton Springs, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)

Oxalis corniculata (creeping woodsorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel, sleeping beauty, creeping wood sorrel)

7/15/2021 · Tom and Susan’s, Highland Green, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 22 cm)

Oxalis corniculata (creeping woodsorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel, sleeping beauty, creeping wood sorrel)

7/20/2021 · Otter Brook, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Oxalis corniculata (creeping woodsorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel, sleeping beauty, creeping wood sorrel)

6/23/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)

  You are here
Oxalis corniculata
Common Name

creeping woodsorrel
Plant Low-growing, prostrate, up to 4″ (10 cm), and rather delicate. It spreads by producing creeping, horizontal stems (stolons) up to 12″ (30 cm) long.
Flowers Bright yellow, with five petals, in clusters of 2-7, ⅛-½″ (3.2-12 mm) around, appearing from June to September. Flower stalks are erect or ascending.
Leaves Trifoliate, with three rounded heart-shaped leaflets, like clover. They fold up like miniature parasols when there is little sun. Leaves are purple-green or dark purple, and somewhat hairy, especially along leaf margins. Leaves are ⅛-⅜″ (6-10 mm) × ⅛-⅞″ (4-25 mm). Leafs stalks are longer than in most plants, up to 2½″ (7 cm).
Fruit Narrow, cylindrical capsules, ⅛-1″ (6-28 mm) long. When it dries it “explodes,” spreading is 1/32″ (1 mm) seeds.
Range/ Zones

Habitats Waste places, lawns, and gardens.
Type Wild
Occurrence Common

 

Edibility: Leaves are edible as salad greens or cook as pot­herbs if combined with other milder greens. They contain oxalic acid which is poisonous unless eaten sparingly.

Online References:

Ipm.ucanr.edu

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

References:

Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 176

Oxalis corniculata (creeping woodsorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel, sleeping beauty, creeping wood sorrel)

12/12/2016 · Bonsai West, Littleton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)

Acetosella corniculata (L.) Kuntze

Oxalis corniculata L. var. atropurpurea Planch.

Oxalis corniculata L. var. corniculata

Oxalis corniculata L. var. lupulina (R. Knuth) Zucc.

Oxalis corniculata L. var. langloisii (Small) Wiegand

Oxalis corniculata L. var. macrophylla Arsene ex R. Knuth

Oxalis corniculata L. var. minor Laing

Oxalis corniculata L. var. reptans Laing

Oxalis corniculata L. var. villosa (M. Bieb.) Hohen.

Oxalis corniculata L. var. viscidula Wiegand

Oxalis langloisii (Small) Fedde

Oxalis pusilla Salisb.

Oxalis repens Thunb.

Oxalis villosa M. Bieb.

Xanthoxalis corniculata (L.) Small

Xanthoxalis corniculata (L.) Small var. atropurpurea (Planch.) Moldenke

Xanthoxalis langloisii Small

Xanthoxalis repens (Thunb.) Moldenke

 

Oxalis corniculata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 17 Aug 2021.

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Oxalis corniculata (creeping woodsorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel, sleeping beauty, creeping wood sorrel)

5/19/2016 · Bemis Road Trails, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm)

Oxalis corniculata (creeping woodsorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel, sleeping beauty, creeping wood sorrel)

6/23/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm)

Range:

About this map...