UPRIGHT YELLOW WOOD-SORREL 



Oxalis strict a L. 



April - June '^'.'^our-grass-', tlie children call the leaves of yellow- 



Lawns, gardens oxalis, or call the seeds "pickles"' and gather them for 

 doll feasts or for brief refreshment during play. For 

 the yellow wood-soiicl is imt truly a woodland species, hut comes into 

 liasturei*, gardens, and lawns where the soil is somewhat acid, blooms its 

 l)right buttercup-yellow ilowers and makes innumcrabk' fat green seeds. 

 J-ike the oth(M- nuMnbiM's of the w(>!)d-si)rr(d family, the entire plant is 

 acid. Tile liii^lit giccii leaves aic t liii'e-|)ailed. faih section heart-shaped. 

 It is said that the origii)aI Iri-li -li.iimock was an oxalis with this same 

 ])Ian of leaf. 



^'ellow• wood-soncl begins to bloom in April and continues to blos- 

 som st<?adily during most of the summer, seeds itsell. and sends uj) a 

 ncnv cro]) of plants before the seascm is over. There are several species 

 w Inch bear yellow flowers, as well as the more rare violet wood-sorrel and 

 the white oxalis. The latter is a ])lant of the cool nin-thern bogs and 

 moist, mossy, coniferous woods: the violet wood-sorrel of Illinois oak 

 woods and rocky ])laces from Massachusetts to Minnesota and southward, 

 while the yellow })refers sunny, sandy .<oil. 



There arc two yellow-llowered sorrels in Illinois that are often con- 

 fused. Oxalis siricta is often found in open fallow fields and pastures but 

 sometimes comes into open woods. It is usually biamhed at the base and 

 its ca]isides are finely ])ul)escent. The connnon yellow wood-soiTcl (OraJis 

 cynidsa), has ilowers similar to the above species, but does not branch 

 near the base and is strictly a woodland plant. It is often two feet tall 

 with scattered flowers followed by nearly smooth capsules. 



68 



