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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
|genus=Oxalis
|genus=Oxalis
|species=acetosella
|species=acetosella
|common_name=Common wood sorrel
|habit=herbaceous
|Temp Metric=°F
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Upload.png
|image=Oxalis acetosella LC0190.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_width=240
}}
}}
'''Common Wood-sorrel''' is a plant from the genus ''[[Oxalis]]'', common in most of [[Europe]] and parts of [[Asia]]. The [[binomial name]] is ''Oxalis acetosella'', because of its sour taste. In much of its range it is the only member of its [[genus]] and hence simply known as "the" '''wood-sorrel'''.
The plant has heart-shaped [[leaf|leaves]], folded through the middle, that occur in groups of three atop a reddish brown stalk. It flowers for a few months during the spring, with small white [[flower]]s with pink streaks. Red or violet flowers also occur rarely.During the night or when it rains both flowers and leaves contract.
The leaves are edible, but contain [[oxalic acid]] which is slightly [[toxic]] as it interferes with food [[digestion]].
The "Common wood sorrel" of [[North America]] is ''[[Oxalis montana]]'', found from [[New England]] and [[Nova Scotia]] to [[Wisconsin]] and [[Manitoba]] and more unambiguously known as [[Mountain Wood-sorrel]]. It is similar to the species described above, but the petals are noticeably notched. It is called '''sours''' in the Northeast US.
The common wood sorrel is sometimes referred to as a [[shamrock]] (due to its three-leaf [[clover]]-like motif) and given as a gift on [[St. Patrick's Day]].
{{Inc|
{{Inc|
Oxalis acetosella, Linn. Scarcely half as large in its various dimensions, otherwise very similar. E. U. S. and Eu. Fl. Dan. 980.—Often taken for the shamrock, lake the preceding, used sparingly in rockeries.
Oxalis acetosella, Linn. Scarcely half as large in its various dimensions, otherwise very similar. E. U.S. and Eu.—Often taken for the shamrock, lake the preceding, used sparingly in rockeries.
}}
}}
