Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Yellow Wood Sorrel
(Sour Grass)
Oxalis stricta [C-value
0]
Wood Sorrel family (Oxalidaceae)
Blooms May -
October
The native Yellow Wood Sorrel is common in our area. It prefers partial to full sun and slightly moist to dry loamy soil. Habitats include open woodlands, grassy meadows, edges of driveways, parking lots and roadsides. This perenniall is typically 3-8" tall, branching abundantly, with stems covered with short hairs and alternate trifoliate leaves with a 3-leaf clover appearance on petioles up to 2½" long. In the absence of sunlight, the pale green leaflets (¼-½" across) droop downward and fold along their central veins. Small umbel of 2-6 flowers are produced from the axils of leaves. These flowers are about 1/4-3/8" across with 5 yellow petals.
Yellow Wood Sorrel at Baker Woods Forest Preserve August 19, 2013
Yellow Wood Sorrel at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve September 15, 2012
Yellow Wood Sorrel at Baker Woods Forest Preserve August 14, 2012
Yellow Wood Sorrel at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve August 10, 2012
Native Americans used the leaves, flowers and bulbs of this plant for food, and they boiled the whole plant to make yellow and orange dyes. They also used the roots to make treatments for fever and blood disorders. Reminder: see our Do Not Disturb Notice.
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