Oxalis corniculata (Creeping woodsorrel)

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Oxalis corniculata L.

Creeping woodsorrel, procumbent yellow sorrel, sleeping beauty, creeping wood sorrel

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Geraniales	Balsams, mustards, geraniums, wood sorrels, nasturtiums, others
Family	Oxalidaceae	Wood sorrels
Genus	Oxalis	Wood sorrels (Oxalis means “sour”)
Species	corniculata	Horned.

About plant names...

Creeping woodsorrel is either native to or naturalized in North America. They are common, preferring waste places, lawns, and gardens.

Plants: Plants are low-growing, prostrate, up to 4" (10 cm), and rather delicate and vulnerable-looking. It spreads by producing creeping, horizontal stems (stolons) up to 12" (30 cm) long.

Leaves: Trifoliate, with three rounded heart-shaped leaflets, like clover. They fold up like miniature parasols when there is little sun. Leaves are purple-green or dark purple, and somewhat hairy, especially along leaf margins. Leaves are ⅛-⅜" (6-10 mm) × ⅛-⅞" (4-25 mm). Leafs stalks are longer than in most plants, up to 2½" (7 cm).

Flowers: Flowers are bright yellow, with five petals, in clusters of 2-7, ⅛-½" (3.2-12 mm) around, appearing from June to September. Flower stalks are erect or ascending.

Fruits: Narrow, cylindrical capsules, ⅛-1" (6-28 mm) long. When it dries it “explodes,” spreading is ¹/₃₂" (1 mm) seeds.

These are closely similar (see also this comparison):

7/15/2012 · Fort Point State Park, Stockton Springs, Maine
≈ 6 × 4½" (14 × 11 cm)

7/15/2021 · Tom and Susan’s, Highland Green, Topsham, Maine
≈ 6 × 9" (15 × 22 cm)

7/20/2021 · Otter Brook, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

6/23/2017 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 3 × 3" (8.1 × 7.8 cm)

	You are here Oxalis corniculata
Common Name	creeping woodsorrel
Plant	Low-growing, *prostrate*, up to 4" (10 cm), and rather delicate. It spreads by producing creeping, horizontal stems (stolons) up to 12" (30 cm) long.
Flowers	Bright yellow, with five petals, in clusters of 2-7, ⅛-½" (3.2-12 mm) around, appearing from June to September. *Flower stalks are erect or ascending.*
Leaves	Trifoliate, with three rounded heart-shaped leaflets, like clover. They fold up like miniature parasols when there is little sun. Leaves are *purple-green or dark purple, and somewhat hairy, especially along leaf margins*. Leaves are ⅛-⅜" (6-10 mm) × ⅛-⅞" (4-25 mm). Leafs stalks are longer than in most plants, up to 2½" (7 cm).
Fruit	Narrow, cylindrical capsules, ⅛-1" (6-28 mm) long. When it dries it “explodes,” spreading is ¹/₃₂" (1 mm) seeds.
Range/ Zones
Habitats	Waste places, lawns, and gardens.
Type	Wild
Occurrence	Common

Edibility: Leaves are edible as salad greens or cook as potherbs if combined with other milder greens. They contain oxalic acid which is poisonous unless eaten sparingly.

Online References:

Ipm.ucanr.edu

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

References:

Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 176