Fauna
Flower

Pink-sorrel

Oxalis articulata

Also known as Pink Wood Sorrel, Windowbox Wood-Sorrel, Sourgrass

Pink-sorrel forms low, neat clumps of clover-like, three-lobed leaves topped by clusters of vivid magenta-pink flowers. Each flower closes at night and during cloudy weather, opening wide under direct sun to welcome visiting pollinators. Native to temperate South America, this resilient perennial spreads easily through swollen underground rhizomes, making it a familiar sight in garden borders, lawns, and pavement cracks around the world.

PerennialFloweringSouth American
Pink-sorrel reference1 / 7
(c) Gianni Del Bufalo bygdb, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Gianni Del Bufalo bygdb · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Snails
  • Slugs
  • Caterpillars
ThreatsHerbicide application and intense garden cultivation
HabitatsLawns, garden borders, waste ground, grassy banks
Life spanPerennial (5–10+ years)
Classification
  1. OrderOxalidales
  2. FamilyOxalidaceae
  3. GenusOxalis
  4. SpeciesOxalis articulata
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Contains soluble oxalates, which are toxic to pets if eaten in large quantities; do not ingest.
Why it is dangerous
Accumulates soluble calcium oxalates in leaves and stems, which cause oral irritation and potential kidney harm in pets.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for heart-shaped, three-part leaves paired with leafless stalks bearing clusters of bright pink blossoms.
What to do
Keep grazing pets away from large patches and do not eat wild oxalis based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Sunlight Response: Watch the petals and leaves fold downward tightly at dusk or during overcast weather.
  • Garden Management: Remove deep underground rhizomes completely if controlling its spread in cultivated beds.
  • Photography Timing: Visit patches on warm, clear mornings when flowers are fully expanded.
Related species
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