Creeping Woodsorrel
Oxalis corniculata
| Common Name: | Creeping woodsorrel |
| Scientific Name: | Oxalis corniculata |
| Family: | Oxalidaceae |
| Growth Form: | Herb |
| Native Range: | World-wide |
| Alien Range: | Southern, mid-western and eastern |
| Introduction: | Brought by European settlers. Propagation is by seed or stolon. |
| Description: | ·Leaves: Alternate and compound with 3 heart shaped leaflets. Leaflets 1-2 cm (0.5-1 in.) wide. Smooth; margins entire with hair. Purplish.
·Stem: Erect; green to purple color; hairy. Unbranched, or branched from the base. ·Flowers: Yellow. 7-11 mm (0.5 in.) in diameter. 5 petals, 4-9 mm (0.25-0.5 in.) long, 5 sepals. Cluster on stalks that rise out of the leaf axils. Present from May to September. ·Fruit: Capsule with ridges and hair, 1-1.5 cm (0.5-0.75 in.) long. Seeds are brown, oval, 1-1.5mm long. Sticky coating. |
| Threats: | Creeping woodsorrel is a weed of greenhouses, landscapes, and lawns. It is a pest to gardeners. |
| Fun Facts: | The seedpods of the creeping woodsorrel are triggered to violently expel the seeds at the slightest pressure. |
Leaves with flower
