Oxalis dillenii Jacq.

Oxalis, common yellow wood-sorrel, yellow wood-sorrel, common yellow oxalis, slender yellow woodsorrel

Similar species

	You are here Oxalis dillenii	Oxalis stricta	Oxalis corniculata
Common Name	oxalis	common yellow woodsorrel	creeping woodsorrel
Plant	3–8″ (7.6–20 cm) tall, rarely reaching 1′ (30 cm). Heavily branched, especially near the base. Stems are light green and smooth, or covered with short appressed hairs, lying flat against the stems. Younger plants may be hairier.	3–8″ (7.6–20 cm) tall, rarely reaching 1′ (30 cm). Heavily branched, especially near the base. Stems are light green and smooth, or covered with short appressed hairs, lying flat against the stems. Younger plants may be hairier.	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.
Leaves	Alternate, trifoliate, cloverlike, folding up like miniature parasols when there is little sun. Leaves appear atop upward-pointed petioles up to 2½″ (6.3 cm) in length. They are usually green, sometimes outlined in purplish, rarely dark reddish purple. They are usually hairless. Leaflets are obcordate (heart-shaped), with smooth edges. Individual leaflets are ¼–½″ (6.3–12 mm) in size.	Alternate, trifoliate, cloverlike, folding up like miniature parasols when there is little sun. Leaves appear atop upward-pointed petioles up to 2½″ (6.3 cm) in length. They are usually green, sometimes outlined in purplish, rarely dark reddish purple. They are usually hairless. Leaflets are obcordate (heart-shaped), with smooth edges. Individual leaflets are ¼–½″ (6.3–12 mm) in size.	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	Yellow, in groups of 2-7 on umbels. Each flower is 5/16–¼″ (8.3–6.3 mm) in diameter, with 5 yellow petals, 5 light green sepals, 10 stamens, and a pistil. Flowers appear from late spring to mid-fall.	Yellow, in groups of 2-7 on umbels. Each flower is 5/16–¼″ (8.3–6.3 mm) in diameter, with 5 yellow petals, 5 light green sepals, 10 stamens, and a pistil. Flowers appear from late spring to mid-fall.	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.
Fruit	Seed capsules occur in groups of 3-5. They look like little green bananas, bent slightly, ⅜–¾″ (9.5–19 mm) long, and five-sided. Ripening capsules split into five sections, exploding seeds up to several feet away. Seeds are just over 1/32″ (1 mm) long brown, oval, and flattened.	Seed capsules occur in groups of 3-5. They look like little green bananas, bent slightly, ⅜–¾″ (9.5–19 mm) long, and five-sided. Ripening capsules split into five sections, exploding seeds up to several feet away. Seeds are just over 1/32″ (1 mm) long brown, oval, and flattened.	Narrow, cylindrical capsules, ⅛–1″ (6–28 mm) long. When it dries it “explodes,” spreading is 1/32″ (1 mm) seeds.
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Open woodlands, meadows, lawns, gardens, dis­turbed areas, and sunny waste areas.		Waste places, lawns, and gardens.

Oxalis dillenii description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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