Fauna
Plant

Slender Yellow Woodsorrel

Oxalis dillenii

Also known as Southern Wood-sorrel, Dillen's Oxalis

Slender yellow woodsorrel features trifoliate leaves composed of three distinct heart-shaped leaflets that fold downward along the central vein at dusk or during overcast weather. Its upright, cylindrical seed capsules build hydraulic tension as they dry, violently firing seeds several feet away when lightly disturbed. Thriving in lawns, gravel paths, and open woodlands, it provides early nectar to small native bees and syrphid flies.

FloweringHerbaceousSun-loving
Slender Yellow Woodsorrel reference
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil nutrients
Predators
  • Caterpillars
  • Slugs
  • Rabbits
ThreatsHerbicides, frequent mowing, competition from aggressive turf grasses
HabitatsLawns, meadows, roadsides, open woodlands, disturbed ground
Life span1–3 years
Classification
  1. OrderOxalidales
  2. FamilyOxalidaceae
  3. GenusOxalis
  4. SpeciesOxalis dillenii
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; toxic to dogs, cats, and livestock if ingested in significant amounts.
Why it is dangerous
Soluble oxalates and oxalic acid can bind systemic calcium, causing tremors and acute kidney damage in pets or livestock that graze heavily upon it.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Identifiable by erect stems covered in flattened, upward-pointing hairs, yellow five-petaled blossoms, and three heart-notched leaflets.
What to do
Keep grazing pets away from dense patches, and avoid consuming wild foliage in substantial quantities.
Responsible observation
  • Seed dispersal: Brush ripe upright seed pods to witness their explosive ballistic seed release.
  • Evening folding: Check foliage at dusk to observe the leaves folded tightly against the stem.
Related species
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