Seasonal Wild Flowers

Wood-sorrel

Oxalis acetosella

Oxalidaceae

April and May

It is found throughout the country, except for parts of

Lincolnshire and East Anglia.

See the BSBI distribution map for Wood-sorrel

It grows in shady habitats such as woods, hedges,

banks, limestone grikes and rough hill-side grassland.

Wood-sorrel is a native, perennial, rhizomatous creeping

herb, which can cover extensive areas in woodland

before the canopy closes.

Flowers are cup-shaped, up to 12-18mm with 5 white

petals.

Petals have lilac veins with basal yellow patches.

There are 10 white stamens with white anthers.

There are 5 white styles with small stigmas.

Leaves are pale-green with 3 downwardly pointing

lobes

The leaflets have obvious, white hairs.

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Next page: Wood Speedwell

Wood-sorrel, Batcombe Down, Dorset

Close-up of flower - 10 stamens and 5 styles

Side view of flower

Newly-emerged leaves - addpressed hairs

Older leaves