Oxalis corniculata L.
Oxalis corniculata L. subsp. corniculata
Oxalis
corniculata L. var. atropurpurea Planch.
Oxalis
corniculata L. var.
corniculata
Oxalis corniculata L. var. microphylla
Hook.f.
Oxalis corniculata L. var. repens (Thunb.)
Zucc.
Oxalidaceae
creeping lady's sorrel, creeping oxalis, creeping sorrel, creeping wood sorrel, creeping wood-sorrel, creeping woodsorrel, Indian sorrel, lady's sorrel, oxalis, procumbent yellow sorrel, procumbent yellow-sorrel, sheep sorrel, sorrel, sour grass, wood sorrel, yellow oxalis, yellow sorrel, yellow wood sorrel, yellow wood-sorrel, yellow woodsorrel
This species probably originated in Europe, thought its exact origin is obscure. It is now widespread throughout the world (i.e. cosmopolitan).
Widely naturalised in Queensland.
Widely naturalised in other parts of Australia (i.e. eastern New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Also naturalised on Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and Christmas Island.
A common weed that is mainly restricted to populated areas. It is generally found in gardens, lawns, pot plants, footpaths, parks, disturbed sites and waste areas.
A long-lived (i.e. perennial) herbaceous plant with creeping (i.e. prostrate) stems and a short tap root.
The slender stems usually grow across the soil surface and produce roots at their joints (i.e. nodes).
The leaves are once-compound with three leaflets (i.e. trifoliate) and are borne on stalks (i.e. petioles) 1-8 cm long. The green or purplish leaflets (5-18 mm long and 8-23 mm wide) are heart-shaped, but broader towards the tip (i.e. obcordate). These leaflets may be hairless (i.e. glabrous) or finely hairy (i.e. puberulent).
The flowers are funnel-shaped (i.e. funnelform) and have five yellow petals (4-10 mm long). These flowers are borne singly or in small clusters containing 2-7 flowers. Flowering occurs throughout most of the year.
The fruit are cylindrical capsules (1-2.5 cm long) that explosively release their seeds when mature.
This species is not declared under any state or local government legislation in the region.
As this species is not a declared plant, its control is not required by law.
For information on the management of this species see Suburban Weeds (Third Edition) , by Kleinschmidt, Holland and Simpson (1996), page 22.
Creeping oxalis (Oxalis corniculata) is very similar to several native oxalis species in the region that all have yellow flowers (i.e. Oxalis exilis, Oxalis chnoodes, Oxalis perennans, Oxalis radicosa, Oxalis thompsoniae and Oxalis rubens).
These species are difficult to distinguish from each other and a specialist text should be consulted.
Creeping oxalis (Oxalis corniculata) is normally found in disturbed sites close to habitation, and usually is not a weed of natural vegetation.
Note: some very similar native species may also be troublesome weeds of lawns, gardens and crops in the region.