Oxalis violacea L. - Violet Wood Sorrel
Family - Oxalidaceae
Stems:
N/A
Leaves:
Inflorescence:
Flowers:
Flowering - March - May, again in the fall.
Habitat - Rich upland woods, open hammocks, glades.
Origin - Native to North America.
Other information - This attractive species can be found throughout most of Alabama but is most common in the northern 2/3 of the state. The plant is easy to identify because of its bulb-like stem, three-foliolate leaves (which are purple abaxially), and its pink flowers.
The genus name Oxalis derives from the Greek "ox (a)" meaning "acid", referring to the sharp taste of the calcium oxalate crystals of the plant. "oxal (is)" is the ancient Greek name for the sorrels.
The species epithet violacea derives from the Latin "viola(ce)" meaning "violet, violet-colored" referring to the flowers.
Alabama Distribution:
Photographs taken at Danville Conservation Area, Montgomery County, MO., 4-8-04, and at Moss Creek Woods, Hoover, AL., 3-12-06.