Oxalis acetosella auct. non L.
Oxalis acetosella L. ssp. montana (Raf.) Hultén ex D. Löve
Oxalis acetosella L. var. rhodantha (Fernald) R. Knuth
Oxalis montana Raf. Common wood sorrel, mountain woodsorrel, wood shamrock, white woodsorrel, wood sorrel
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. Online References:
Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ... The Natural History of the Northwoods Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium Wildflowers of the United States References:
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 90 6/13/2021 · Cathance River Nature Preserve, Topsham, Maine 7/12/2015 · Bingham Falls, Smuggler’s Notch State Park, Cambridge, Vermont 7/12/2015 · Bingham Falls, Smuggler’s Notch State Park, Cambridge, Vermont 8/19/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts A missing leaf ... or a green butterfly? · 9/4/2020 · Widgeon Cove Trail, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine Oxalis acetosella auct. non L. Oxalis acetosella L. ssp. montana (Raf.) Hultén ex D. Löve Oxalis acetosella L. var. rhodantha (Fernald) R. Knuth
Oxalis montana description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 24 Aug 2021. © FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved. |
8/16/2020 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine 9/28/2013 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine 7/12/2015 · Bingham Falls, Smuggler’s Notch State Park, Cambridge, Vermont 6/19/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine A natural variegated form. · 7/11/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near NH Line, Dunstable, Massachusetts 8/28/2020 · Jack’s and Litchfield Trails, Chase Reserve, Brunswick, Maine 8/16/2015 · Table Rock Hike, Appalacian Trail, Grafton Notch State Park 6/19/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine Several plants are missing a leaflet, making green butterflies. · 9/4/2020 · Widgeon Cove Trail, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine Range:
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