Oxalis corniculata
Oxalidaceae
Spreading Yellow-sorrel
April to September
It is found throughout the country but is much less
common in northern areas.
See the BSBI distribution map for Procumbent Yellow-sorrel
It is a neophyte which has been cultivated in the UK since
the 1650s and known in the wild since the 1770s.
It is a persistent weed of cultivated land, including
gardens, disturbed ground, paths, containers, walls
and rockeries.
Procumbent Yellow-sorrel is a scrambling, annual
(sometimes a short-lasting perennial), mat-forming herb,
growing up to 15cm.
Flowers are up to 8mm across and have 5 deep
yellow petals
with variable basal markings.
There are 10 yellow stamens - some may not have
anthers.
There are 5 yellow styles with capitate stigmas.
The sepals are lanceolate.
Fruits are hairy capsules, which can eject seeds up
to 2m,
Leaves have 3 bilobed leaflets which are often folded
and range from light green to dark purple. They may
have hairy margins.
Stems are brittle, the broken off sections readily
rooting at the nodes.
Procumbent Yellow-sorrel is more common than
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Next page: Purple Gromwell
Procumbent Yellow-sorrel with purple leaves
With light green leaves
Growing from a crack in a wall
5 petals, 10 stamens and 5 styles
5 inner styles, 5 + 5 stamens
Lanceolate sepals
Capsules
3 bilobed leaflets with hairy margins
Folded leaflets
Purple leaflets
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