Woodland plants · Oxalis acetosella
Discovering wood sorrel
Three little hearts on a leaf stalk! Flauschi spots wood sorrel. Puschel bends down to admire its delicate flowers.
The short answer
Wood sorrel has leaves made of three heart-shaped leaflets. White flowers may have fine pink or purple lines. That is no reason to taste it: we compare visible features.
See the connection
Simplified drawings, not to scale. Not a guide for identifying species.
An imagined Wusel scene
Puschel and Flauschi investigate
Puschel counts softly: ‘One, two, three!’ Tiny green hearts are growing in front of him.
‘Those are three leaflets on one leaf,’ says Flauschi. Nearby she notices a white flower with fine pink lines.
They crouch down to look without picking anything.
Plant clues
Three things to notice
Three leaflets
Each leaf has three upside-down heart-shaped leaflets.
Delicate flower
The flowers are white, often with fine pink or violet veins.
Shady place
Wood sorrel grows low on damp, shady woodland floors.
Mini quiz
What do you remember?
1. How many leaflets make up one leaf?
Choose one answer: a), b) or c).
- a)Three
- b)Five
- c)Seven
Show answer
Correct answer: a): Three Three heart-shaped leaflets.
2. Where does wood sorrel often grow?
Choose one answer: a), b) or c).
- a)In sunny, dry meadows
- b)In water at the pond edge
- c)On a shady woodland floor
Show answer
Correct answer: c): On a shady woodland floor Low on the shady, often damp woodland floor.
Explore in more detail
Here you will find longer explanations and further details. You can explore them together.
What makes up one leaf?
Three heart-shaped leaflets share the end of one wood sorrel leaf stalk. Together they make one leaf. The leaflets may fold down, for example in the evening. This is not a hand movement or evidence that the plant becomes tired like a person.
Compare and understand
Compare the same plant from the path during the day and in early evening without touching it. One feature can change with time: the leaflets’ position. Its name does not invite tasting. Never identify an unknown plant by its flavour.