# mountain woodsorrel (*Oxalis montana*) Mountain woodsorrel is a lovely little flower that grows in shady places. Its heart-shaped leaves and pretty pink flowers make it a special sight in the woods. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 13 - **Habitat:** Forests ![mountain woodsorrel](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Oxalis_montana.jpg&width=800) Photo: pellaea, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oxalis_montana.jpg) ## Appearance The mountain woodsorrel has bright green, clover-like leaves, each with three heart-shaped leaflets. Its delicate, five-petaled flowers are white or pale pink, often veined with darker pink or purple. It forms a low-growing, carpet-like mat on the forest floor. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Oxalidales - **Family:** Oxalidaceae - **Genus:** Oxalis ## Interesting facts - Its leaves taste tangy and lemon-like, making it a delicious forest snack! - Some people call its leaves 'false shamrocks' because they look so similar. - The plant's scientific name 'Oxalis' comes from the Greek word for 'sour.' - The tiny flowers attract bees and other insects with their sweet nectar. ## Special abilities - **Sun Shield:** Mountain woodsorrel can fold its leaves like tiny umbrellas to protect itself from too much sun or close them up tightly at night. - **Popcorn Pods:** Mountain woodsorrel has tiny seed pods that burst open when ripe, flinging their seeds far away to spread new plants. - **Underground Explorer:** Mountain woodsorrel can spread using underground stems called rhizomes, helping it form wide, green mats. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-20 cm - **Spread:** 10-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — helps transfer pollen - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses its leaves - **Eaten by:** [Black slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — feeds on tender leaves ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [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. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [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 look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify mountain woodsorrel? 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 mountain woodsorrel? 5-20 cm ### How wide does mountain woodsorrel spread? 10-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on mountain woodsorrel? 1-2 cm ### When does mountain woodsorrel bloom? Late spring to summer ### Is mountain woodsorrel edible? Yes ### Is mountain woodsorrel toxic? Mild ### What is mountain woodsorrel's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Catskill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/catskill-park) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Chenango Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chenango-canal) — New York, US · Historic Site - [Quehanna Wild Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/quehanna-wild-area) — Pennsylvania, US · Nature Reserve - [Riverton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/riverton-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wachusett-meadow-wildlife-sanctuary) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Wilder](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wilder) — New Hampshire, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see mountain woodsorrel](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/mountain-woodsorrel) ## 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: [Mountain Woodsorrel: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mountain-woodsorrel)