Wood sorrel’s name is an English distortion of sorrel de boys, a Middle French
expression meaning “sour,” a reference to the taste of the leaves. Oxalic acid, the agent
responsible for the sour taste, was first isolated from members of this genus, hence the
acid’s name. Wood sorrel is found on forest floors, especially hemlock and spruce fir forests, in
rich and somewhat moist soils, and
can tolerate shade. It spreads by extending rhizomes (roots) or stolons (essentially above-ground roots).
Plants: Woodsorrels are less than 4″ (10 cm) high, and evergreen.
Leaves: Leaves are basal, in groups of three heart-shaped leaflets that resemble clover. The leaves are stemless, emerging directly from
the roots. They fold and unfold slowly in response to sunlight.
Flowers: Delicate and beautiful, white or
pink, with darker pink veins and five petals, about ¾″ (1.9 cm) around.
Fruits: A round capsule.
Edibility: Wood sorrel is mildly poisonous, though its sharp
sour taste is likely to dissuade anyone from eating it by accident.
6/13/2021 · Cathance River Nature Preserve, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm)
7/12/2015 · Bingham Falls, Smuggler’s Notch State Park, Cambridge, Vermont · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)
7/12/2015 · Bingham Falls, Smuggler’s Notch State Park, Cambridge, Vermont · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm)
8/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain
A missing leaf ... or a green butterfly? · 9/4/2020 · Widgeon Cove Trail, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)
8/16/2020 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
9/28/2013 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)
7/12/2015 · Bingham Falls, Smuggler’s Notch State Park, Cambridge, Vermont · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 16 cm)
6/19/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 16 cm)
A natural variegated form. · 7/11/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near NH Line, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)
8/28/2020 · Jack’s and Litchfield Trails, Chase Reserve, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)
10/6/2023
8/16/2015 · Table Rock Hike, Appalacian Trail, Grafton Notch State Park · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 22 cm)
6/19/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)
Several plants are missing a leaflet, making green butterflies. · 9/4/2020 · Widgeon Cove Trail, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)