Oxalis violacea Linnaeus. Common name: Violet Wood-sorrel. Phenology: Mid Feb-May (-Jul). Habitat: Dry to moist forests. Distribution: MA, VT, MI, SD, and CO south to FL, TX, and AZ.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: < Ionoxalis violacea (L.) Small — S, S13; < Oxalis violacea L. — Ar, C, FNA12, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, Nesom (2009b), Robertson (1975), Ward (2004a); > Oxalis violacea L. var. trichophora Fassett — F, WV; > Oxalis violacea L. var. violacea — F, WV; < Sassia violacea (L.) Holub. Basionym: Oxalis violacea L. 1753
Links to other floras: < Oxalis violacea - FNA12
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Heliophily ⓘ: 4
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© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: oxalis violacea (white form), stone mountain, stone mountain park, dekalb county, georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Low-growing, stoloniferous perennial of dry to moist upland forests and well-drained floodplain forests.
Stems: Stems essentially absent; leaves and flowering stalks emerge from stolons.
Leaves: Leaves long-petiolate, divided into 3 heart-shaped leaflets (3/8-1 in. wide each), grayish-green with purplish markings and smooth; leaflets fold downward along mid-vein at night and in cloudy weather.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers 3-12 in a floppy umbel, on a smooth scape rising above the leaves; violet to pink with a white and green throat; about 1/3 in. wide; consisting of 5 oblong-oval petals, 5 sepals tipped with orange glands and 10 stamens.
Fruits: Fruit a rounded or oval capsule that splits into 5 sections. Seeds have a fleshy pad (aril) that attracts ant dispersers.
Comments:
Height: 4-8 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Low-growing, stoloniferous perennial of dry to moist upland forests and well-drained floodplain forests.
stems: Stems essentially absent; leaves and flowering stalks emerge from stolons.
leaves: Leaves long-petiolate, divided into 3 heart-shaped leaflets (3/8-1 in. wide each), grayish-green with purplish markings and smooth; leaflets fold downward along mid-vein at night and in cloudy weather.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers 3-12 in a floppy umbel, on a smooth scape rising above the leaves; violet to pink with a white and green throat; about 1/3 in. wide; consisting of 5 oblong-oval petals, 5 sepals tipped with orange glands and 10 stamens.
fruits: Fruit a rounded or oval capsule that splits into 5 sections. Seeds have a fleshy pad (aril) that attracts ant dispersers.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern & central United States
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