# European wood-sorrel (*Oxalis acetosella*) European wood-sorrel is a small plant with heart-shaped leaves and pretty white or pink flowers. It grows in shady forests and is often found in groups, making the ground look like a green carpet! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![European wood-sorrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oxalis_acetosella_LC0190.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jörg Hempel, CC BY-SA 3.0 de · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oxalis_acetosella_LC0190.jpg) ## Appearance The European wood-sorrel has delicate, clover-like leaves, each with three heart-shaped leaflets. Its small, bell-shaped flowers are typically white, sometimes tinged with pink or lilac, and distinctively marked with fine purple or violet veins. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Oxalidales - **Family:** Oxalidaceae - **Genus:** Oxalis ## Interesting facts - Bumblebees love its nectar, helping the plant grow new seeds. - If you find a four-leaf wood-sorrel, it's considered very lucky! - Its Latin name, 'acetosella', means 'a little sour', just like its taste! - Some people call it 'fairy bells' because of its dainty, hanging white flowers. ## Special abilities - **Sleepy Leaves:** European wood-sorrel can fold its leaves down at night or in harsh sun, protecting itself from cold or excessive light. - **Exploding Seeds:** European wood-sorrel has seed pods that explosively eject tiny seeds when ripe, helping it spread far and wide. - **Underground Network:** European wood-sorrel forms an underground network of rhizomes, allowing it to rapidly spread and colonize new areas. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-15 cm - **Spread:** 10-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Eaten by:** [Roe deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — browses on its leaves - **Shelter:** [European beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-beech) (*Fagus sylvatica*) — thrives in its shade - **Shelter:** [English oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) — grows under its canopy ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or tasting plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify European wood-sorrel? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is European wood-sorrel? 5-15 cm ### How wide does European wood-sorrel spread? 10-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on European wood-sorrel? 1-2 cm ### When does European wood-sorrel bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is European wood-sorrel edible? Yes ### Is European wood-sorrel toxic? Mild ### What is European wood-sorrel's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Skandinavisk Dyrepark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/skandinavisk-dyrepark) — Central Denmark Region, DK · Zoo ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [European wood-sorrel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-wood-sorrel)