(Oxalis stricta)
Conservation Status | IUCN Red List |
not yet assessed |
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NatureServe |
N5 - Secure SNR - Unranked |
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Minnesota |
not listed |
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Wetland Indicator Status |
Great Plains |
FACU - Facultative upland | |||||
Midwest |
FACU - Facultative upland |
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Northcentral & Northeast |
FACU - Facultative upland |
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Nativity | Native |
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Occurrence | Common and widespread |
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Habitat | Dry. Prairies, disturbed sites. |
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Flowering | May to October |
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Flower Color | Yellow |
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Height | 6″ to 24″ |
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Identification | This is an 6″ to 24″, but usually 6″ to 12″ tall, usually erect, sometimes lying flat on the ground, bushy, perennial forb rising on a central, branching stem from a long, slender rhizome. The stems have two types of hairs. They are sparsely to moderately covered with short, loosely appressed or upward curving hairs. They are also sparsely to densely covered with long spreading hairs. The leaves are alternate and on long leaf stalks. They are palmately divided into three leaflets. The leaflets are ⅜″ to ¾″ wide and inversely heart-shaped with the attachment at the narrow end. They are gray-green or green and usually hairless, but sometimes have a fringe of hairs along the margin. The margins are untoothed. The leaflets open and spread outwards during the day. They fold closed along the midrib and droop downward at night. They also close under intense sunlight. They repel water, so that after a rain they look dry with water beads on the surface. The inflorescence is a branched cluster of 2 to 7 flowers usually held below the leaves. The central flower is flanked by two branches, each bearing 2 or more flowers. The flowers are about ½″ wide on long flower stalks that position them above the leaves. They have 5 petals and 5 much shorter sepals which are visible between the petals. Like the leaves, they close at night. The fruit is a ⅓″ to ½″ capsule held on an erect, unbent stalk. |
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Similar Species |
Southern yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis dillenii) does not grow from a rhizome. The stems have short, appressed or upward curving hairs but do not have long, spreading hairs. The inflorescence may be a single flower or an umbrella-like, unbranched flower cluster, with all flowers arising from the same point. The fruit is a ½″ to 1″ capsule held on an erect, unbent stalk. In Minnesota it is widespread but much less common. |
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Distribution | ![]() |
Sources: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 28. | |||||
Comments |
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Taxonomy | Family: |
Oxalidaceae (wood-sorrel) |
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Synonyms | Acetosella chinensis Acetosella fontana Oxalis chinensis Oxalis corniculata var. stricta Oxalis cymosa Oxalis diffusa Oxalis europaea Oxalis fontana Oxalis repens var. stricta |
Oxalis shinanoensis Oxalis stricta var. decumbens Oxalis stricta var. piletocarpa Oxalis stricta var. rufa Oxalis stricta var. villicaulis Xanthoxalis cymosa Xanthoxalis europaea Xanthoxalis stricta Xanthoxalis stricta var. piletocarpa |
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Common Names |
common yellow oxalis erect woodsorrel sheep sorrel sourgrass tall wood sorrel toad sorrel |
upright yellow sorrel upright yellow wood-sorrel upright yellow woodsorrel yellow woodsorrel yellow wood sorrel |
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Glossary
Palmate
Similar to a hand. Having more than three lobes or leaflets that radiate from a single point at the base of the leaf.
Rhizome
A horizontal, usually underground stem. It serves as a reproductive structure, producing roots below and shoots above at the nodes.
Sepal
An outer floral leaf, usually green but sometimes colored, at the base of a flower.
Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Stijve klaverzuring Oxalis stricta 19 juli 2010.wmv laverzuring Oxalis stricta 19 juli 2010.wmv Wim Derks Wim Derks |
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About
Uploaded on Jul 19, 2010 Oorspronkelijk uit Amerika afkomstig, nu overal ingeburgerd als onkruid op akkers en in tuinen, maar ook wel eens in het bos, zoals hier in Oranjewoud waar ik hem al jaren zie staan. |
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Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis Stricta) Seeds Exploding in Slow Motion RolandJuno |
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About
Published on Sep 16, 2012 Yellow woodsorrel (oxalis stricta) seed pods that are mature will "fire" their seeds when touched. These weeds are effective at dispersing seeds up to 13 feet away. Shot with a Casio Exilim EX FC-100 at 240FPS. Audio from "Operation Cue" for 1964 from http://archive.org/details/Operatio1964 |
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Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta) Popping it's Seeds Simon Snow |
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About
Published on Jul 14, 2013 I recently identified my yellow woodsorrel and therefore discovered they they pop and scatter their seeds like members of the impatiens family of plants. I then decided that I must have a slow motion video of it happening. This is my first attempt. |
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Day Hike ( part 2 ) Yellow Wood Sorrel MiWilderness |
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About
Uploaded on Jul 28, 2010 This plant is perfectly edible, but it does contain oxalic acid which can cause problems if consumed in large quantities. I use it as a trail nibble. It tastes real good and is tart like lemons. The tartness is a good sign that the plant may contain oxalic acid. |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this plant. |
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Crystal Boyd 6/2/2013 |
Location: Pine Bend Bluffs SNA |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Avon Hills Forest SNA Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA Mary Schmidt Crawford Woods SNA Minnesota Valley NWR Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area Mound Spring Prairie SNA Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR Pembina Trail Preserve SNA Robert Ney Memorial Park Reserve |
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