Family: Oxalidaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 435 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Oxalis
Vegetable: Unknown
Observations: C. & E. China to N. & C. Japan, N. America
Description
The charming Yellow sheep-sorrel, scientifically recognized as Oxalis stricta, is a fascinating and widespread species within the family Oxalidaceae. This resilient plant, originally described by the illustrious Carl Linnaeus in his monumental work “Species Plantarum,” published in 1753, spans an impressive geographical range. It can be found from the temperate regions of China and Japan, extending across much of North America.
Oxalis stricta thrives in diverse environments, showcasing its adaptability and tenacity. The plant typically flourishes in meadows, roadsides, gardens, and even in disturbed soils, often considered a common weed. Despite this, its delicate and charming appearance endears it to many botanists and plant enthusiasts alike.
The plant is characterized by its trifoliate leaves, which somewhat resemble those of clover, and its cheerful yellow flowers that often stand out brilliantly against the greenery. The genus name, Oxalis, derives from the Greek word ‘oxys,’ meaning sharp or acidic, indicative of the plant’s sour-tasting leaves, which are rich in oxalic acid. Historically, these leaves have been used in herbal remedies and are even edible in small quantities, adding a tart flavor to salads and other dishes.
As a member of the Oxalidaceae family, Oxalis stricta shares several traits with its relatives, including its distinctive seed dispersal mechanism. The seed pods, when mature, explode upon drying, effectively spreading the seeds to new locations. This clever strategy ensures the plant’s proliferation across wide areas, contributing to its ubiquitous presence in its native and introduced ranges.
While often overlooked due to its weedy nature, Oxalis stricta plays a role in its ecosystem, providing food for various insects and contributing to soil health. Its resilience and widespread distribution make it an intriguing subject for studies in plant adaptation and ecology.
In summary, Oxalis stricta, or Yellow sheep-sorrel, is a resilient and widespread species with a rich history that spans continents. Its adaptability, along with its pleasant appearance and interesting characteristics, make it a notable plant within the diverse family of Oxalidaceae.
Common Names
Ita: acetosella di dillenius
Deu: aufrechter sauerklee
Eng: common yellow oxalis, erect woodsorrel, sheep sorrel, sourgrass, toad sorrel, upright yellow wood-sorrel, upright yellow woodsorrel, upright yellow-sorrel, yellow sheep-sorrel, yellow wood-sorrel, yellow woodsorrel, european wood-sorrel, upright oxalis, upright yellow oxalis
Lav: eiropas zaķsk
Fra: oxalide d’europe, oxalide des fontaines, oxalide droite, oxalis d’europe, oxalis des fontaines, oxalis droite, oxalide dressée, oxalide stricte, oxalis droit, pain d’oiseau, surette
Dan: rank surkløver
Lit: statusis kiškiakopūstis
Nld: stijve klaverzuring
Pol: szczawik żółty
Swe: klöveroxalis, pystykäenkaali, klöversyra
Ces: kysli, šťavel evropský
Fin: pystykäenkaali
Est: sirge jänesekapsas
Nno: stivgaukesyre
Nob: stivgjøkesyre
Hun: sárga madársósóka
Cym: suran felen unionsyth, suran y coed felen unionsyth, suran y coed melyn unionsyth
En: Yellow sheep-sorrel, Yellow wood-sorrel, Upright yellow-sorrel, Common yellow oxalis, Erect woodsorrel, Sheep sorrel, Sourgrass, Toad sorrel, Upright yellow wood-sorrel, Upright yellow woodsorrel, Yellow woodsorrel, European wood-sorrel, Upright Oxalis, Upright yellow oxalis, Sussex Yellow-sorrel
Cs: Kysli, Šťavel evropský
Da: Rank surkløver
Nl: Stijve klaverzuring
Et: Sirge jänesekapsas
Fi: Pystykäenkaali
Fr: Oxalide d’Europe, Oxalide des fontaines, Oxalide droite, Oxalis d’Europe, Oxalis des fontaines, Oxalis droite, Oxalide dressée, Oxalide stricte, Oxalis droit, Pain d’oiseau, Surette, Oxalide de Dillenius, Oxalis de Dillenius
De: Aufrechter Sauerklee, Dillenius’ Sauerklee, Dillens Sauerklee
Hu: Sárga madársósóka
It: Acetosella di Dillenius
Lv: Eiropas zaķsk
Lt: Statusis kiškiakopūstis
Nb: Stivgjøkesyre
Nn: Stivgaukesyre
Pl: Szczawik żółty
Sv: Klöveroxalis, Pystykäenkaali, Klöversyra
Cy: Suran Felen Unionsyth, Suran y Coed Felen Unionsyth, Suran y Coed Melyn Unionsyth
Synonyms
- Oxys stricta ((L.) All.)
- Oxalis shinanoensis (T.Itô)
- Acetosella fontana ((Bunge) Kuntze)
- Xanthoxalis stricta subsp. villicaulis ((Wiegand) Tzvelev)
- Acetosella stricta ((L.) Kuntze)
- Xanthoxalis europaea f. cymosa ((Small) Moldenke)
- Oxalis stricta var. lejeunei ((Rouy) P.Fourn.)
- Oxalis stricta f. decumbens ((Bitter) J.Hantz)
- Oxalis lejeunei (Rouy)
- Oxalis navieri (Jord.)
- Xanthoxalis rufa ((Small) Small)
- Oxalis fontana (Bunge)
- Ceratoxalis cymosa ((Small) Lunell)
- Xanthoxalis europaea var. bushii ((Small) Moldenke)
- Oxalis europaea f. cymosa ((Small) Wiegand)
- Oxalis europaea f. subglabrata (Wiegand)
- Oxalis europaea var. lanulosa (Benke)
- Oxalis europaea f. pilosella (Wiegand)
- Oxalis repens var. stricta ((L.) Hatus.)
- Oxalis bushii (Small)
- Oxalis stricta f. cymosa ((Small) C.F.Reed)
- Xanthoxalis stricta f. viridiflora ((Hus) Moldenke)
- Xanthoxalis stricta ((L.) Small)
- Oxalis stricta f. viridiflora ((Hus) Fernald)
- Oxalis fluminensis f. vestita ((Wiegand) H.Hara)
- Oxalis fluminensis f. pilosella ((Wiegand) H.Hara)
- Oxalis stricta var. piletocarpa (Wiegand)
- Oxalis fluminensis f. cymosa ((Small) H.Hara)
- Acetosella chinensis ((Haw. ex G.Don) Kuntze)
- Oxalis interior ((Small) R.Knuth)
- Oxalis stricta f. villicaulis ((Wiegand) C.F.Reed)
- Xanthoxalis bushii ((Small) Small)
- Oxalis oneidica (House)
- Xanthoxalis interior (Small)
- Xanthoxalis coloradensis ((Rydb.) Rydb.)
- Oxalis chinensis (Haw. ex G.Don)
- Oxalis fontana var. bushii ((Small) H.Hara)
- Xanthoxalis europaea f. vestita ((Wiegand) Moldenke)
- Oxalis coloradensis (Rydb.)
- Xanthoxalis europaea f. villicaulis ((Wiegand) Moldenke)
- Oxalis stricta subsp. diffusa ((Boenn.) Tourlet)
- Oxalis corniculata subsp. stricta ((L.) Bonnier & Layens)
- Xanthoxalis dillenii var. piletocarpa ((Wiegand) Holub)
- Oxalis cymosa (Small)
- Xanthoxalis cymosa ((Small) Small)
- Xanthoxalis europaea f. subglabrata ((Wiegand) Moldenke)
- Ceratoxalis coloradensis ((Rydb.) Lunell)
- Oxalis europaea var. bushii ((Small) Wiegand)
- Xanthoxalis europaea ((Jord.) Moldenke)
- Oxalis corniculata subvar. piletocarpa ((Wiegand) Farw.)
- Oxalis europaea f. villicaulis (Wiegand)
- Oxalis europaea f. vestita (Wiegand)
- Oxalis fontana var. rufa ((Small) Karlsson)
- Ceratoxalis stricta ((L.) Lunell)
- Oxalis europaea f. pallidiflora (Fernald)
- Oxalis corniculata var. stricta ((L.) Sav.)
- Oxalis stricta var. bushii ((Small) Farw.)
- Oxalis rufa (Small)
- Oxalis stricta var. europaea ((Jord.) R.Knuth)
- Xanthoxalis stricta var. piletocarpa ((Wiegand) Moldenke)
- Oxalis stricta var. diffusa (Boenn.)
- Oxalis fluminensis f. villicaulis ((Wiegand) H.Hara)
- Oxalis stricta var. viridiflora (Hus)
- Oxalis fluminensis f. subglabrata ((Wiegand) H.Hara)
- Oxalis europaea (Jord.)
- Oxalis fluminensis f. pallidiflora ((Fernald) H.Hara)
- Oxalis stricta var. rufa ((Small) Farw.)
- Oxalis fluminensis var. bushii ((Small) H.Hara)
- Oxalis stricta var. villicaulis ((Wiegand) Farw.)
- Xanthoxalis fontana subsp. villicaulis ((Wiegand) Tzvelev)
- Xanthoxalis fontana ((Bunge) Holub)
Distribution
- Alabama (native)
- Arkansas (native)
- British Columbia (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Colorado (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- Delaware (native)
- District of Columbia (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Idaho (native)
- Illinois (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Iowa (native)
- Japan (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Kentucky (native)
- Korea (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Maine (native)
- Manchuria (native)
- Manitoba (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Masachusettes (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Mexico Northwest (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- New Brunswick (native)
- New Hampshire (native)
- New Jersey (native)
- New York (native)
- Newfoundland (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- North Dakota (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Oklahoma (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Prince Edward I. (native)
- Québec (native)
- Rhode I. (native)
- Saskatchewan (native)
- South Carolina (native)
- South Dakota (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Virginia (native)
- West Virginia (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Albania (introduced)
- Amur (introduced)
- Arizona (introduced)
- Austria (introduced)
- Baltic States (introduced)
- Belarus (introduced)
- Belgium (introduced)
- Bermuda (introduced)
- Bulgaria (introduced)
- Canary Is. (introduced)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- Corse (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- Denmark (introduced)
- East Aegean Is. (introduced)
- East European Russia (introduced)
- Ethiopia (introduced)
- Finland (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Greece (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- Ireland (introduced)
- Italy (introduced)
- Kazakhstan (introduced)
- Khabarovsk (introduced)
- Krym (introduced)
- Montana (introduced)
- Netherlands (introduced)
- New Mexico (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- Norway (introduced)
- Nova Scotia (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Queensland (introduced)
- Romania (introduced)
- Sakhalin (introduced)
- Sardegna (introduced)
- Spain (introduced)
- Sweden (introduced)
- Switzerland (introduced)
- Tunisia (introduced)
- Ukraine (introduced)
- Victoria (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
- West Siberia (introduced)
- Wyoming (introduced)
- Yugoslavia (introduced)
Additional Images
Leaf
Taken Jul 4, 2021 by Grace Vedock (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 9, 2021 by Santhosh Kumar (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 8, 2022 by Nikky Artworks (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 14, 2021 by 智美 鈴木 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 9, 2018 by Lothar Rösch (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Aug 17, 2019 by Anne Rousseau (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 9, 2021 by Santhosh Kumar (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 10, 2021 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 7, 2019 by Len Stafford (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 5, 2020 by Jah Oh (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Sep 24, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 13, 2021 by Julia (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 15, 2021 by ellestelle (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 24, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 4, 2021 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jun 1, 2019 by lapin koko (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 16, 2022 by Brotanist (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 2, 2022 by Alexander Baransky (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 24, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 13, 2020 by William Austin (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jul 29, 2021 by Samsara (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 18, 2022 by PT (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 24, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 24, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 24, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Jan 31, 2020 by Bitencourt Annie (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 9, 2011 by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – Mark Francis Watson (cc-by-nc)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/9823072)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:178499-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Oxalis stricta L.)