(Beranium Jfamil^. 



Ladies' Sorrel. Oxalis corniculata, 



Yellow Wood Sorrel. var. st/ricta. 



Sheep Sorrel. 



FouDd in gardens and moist woodlands from June to October. 



The branching, leafy stalk, about 6 or 8 inches in height, is 

 smooth, silky with hairs when newly grown, and a clear, light green 

 color. 



The leaf is compound, with 3 broad, short, heart-shaped leaiiets, 

 that ai'e somewhat folded on the midrib, and are thin, delicate, smooth ; 

 a clear green,- paler underneath. The leaves, on their long slender 

 stems, are alternately arranged. 



The 5 spreading petals of the small flower are delicately thin, and 

 show the veins faintly ; they are a bright clean yellow, while the 

 5-parted shallow calyx is green ; the 5 long and 5 short stamens which 

 are joined together at the base are yellow. The flowers are arranged 

 in a group of 2 to 6 on a long, light green stem, that springs from the 

 angle of the leaf-stern and is generally of the same length. 



Bud, blossom, and seed-pod may often be seen together on this 

 plant, as is common to such a prolonged season of bloom. The pod is 

 5-sided, somewhat fuzzy with down, and bright green. Though hard 

 to uproot, as the gardener knows, because of its underground runners, 

 the plant is weak and apt to flop. The leaflets close entirely rtpon 

 their midribs at night ; their Juice 'is slightly sour, and I'elished by 

 children, who detect in its acid taste a sufficient resemblance to the 

 Red Sorrel (R. acetosa) to warrant the folk-name given this oxalis. 



