Oxalis exilis
Shady Wood-sorrel
Creeping blue-green perennial herb. Ends can become erect. Taproot poor or absent, rooting from creeping stems.
Additional information
- FamilyOxalidaceae
- StoreyLower storey
- Sizestems to 35 cm long
- Plant groupingHerbs & Groundcovers <1m
- LeavesLeaves tufted on flowering stems, divided into 3 wedge-shaped leaflets 2.5-3.5 mm x 3-6 mm, downy below, notched to 1/3 length, stalks 1-9 cm
- Flower colourYellow
- Flowering timeOctober to May
- Flowers1-2 flowers in leaf axils on erect stalks at least as long as leaves. Fruit capsules short and broad, conical to cylindrical, 5-6.5 mm x 2-3 mm.
- Bird attractingNo
- Butterfly attractingNo
- Frog habitatNo
- Growing conditionsWinter-wet to moist soils including peaty sites along watercourses. Full sun to dappled shade.
- Garden useCan form dense mats. Occasionally a garden weed.
- Commercially availableNever
- Conservation statusLocally common within its preferred growing conditions
- Related speciesDistinguish from Oxalis perennans by smaller features of flowers, leaves and capsules. O. perennans has a stout taproot, local forms mostly creeping. Rounded tips of leaflet lobes are up to 12 mm apart, compared with 2-3 mm apart on O. exilis.
Photo Gallery
Photographer/s: 1, 5 Peter Kinchington ©; 2 Russell Best, NatureShare ©; 3, 4 Marilyn Bull ©
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