Ontario Weeds: Common yellow wood-sorrel
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Name: Common yellow wood-sorrel, Oxalis
dillenii Jacq.,
Other Names: oxalide de Dillenius, Oxalis,
Sour-clover, Oxalis stricta misapplied
Family: Oxalis Family (Oxalidaceae)
General Description: Common yellow
wood-sorrel is somewhat grayish-green because of very short, closely
appressed hairs; its stems lack the long hair, and after flowering,
the stalks of its seedpods bend at the nodes and become more or
less zig-zagged so they resemble the letters "N" or "Z".
Other technical differences that distinguish among these wood-sorrels
are beyond the scope of this book.
Common yellow wood sorrel. B. Plant.
Similar Species: This are distinguished from Black medick by their leaflets being heart-shaped, the absence of a distinct stalk for one of the three leaflets (characteristic of Black medick), their yellow flowers having 5 uniformly shaped petals, and their long, narrow seedpods containing several seeds. The leaves of these wood-sorrels resemble those of the shamrock (a variety of White clover, Trifolium repens L.) and have a characteristically sour taste (hence, one of their common names being "sour-clover").
For more information...
... on weed identification, order OMAFRA
Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA
Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control
...on weeds in field crops, contact Mike Cowbrough (mike.cowbrough@ontario.ca),
Weed Management Specialist (Field Crops), OMAFRA
...on weeds in horticultural crops, contact Kristen Callow (kristen.callow@ontario.ca),
Weed Management Specialist (Hort Crops), OMAFRA
For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca