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WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

29.) OXALIDACEAE - Wood-sorrel family

OXALIDACEAE - Wood-sorrel family

OXALIS L.

  • Oxalis corniculata L. (Procumbent Yellow-sorrel) / General Uncommon Now a frequent sight along pavements in urban areas. It has made a huge increase in recent years; particularly around Bristol. It's small seeds are spread far and wide by ants, wind and water channeled along gutters.

  • var. corniculata Very Rare The typical form with green foliage. Rarely encountered with us but was found on Ash Road, Bishopston, Bristol in 2024 by D. Peters.

  • var. atropurpurea Planch. Uncommon The prevailing form with purple foliage.

  • Oxalis exilis A. Cunn. (Least Yellow-sorrel) / General Rare A rare garden escape; sparsely scattered around walls and pavements.

[More records on BSBI]

  • Oxalis dillenii Jacq. (Sussex Yellow-sorrel) General Very Rare A very rare garden escape. First recorded at Congresbury in 2016 by ?; at Banwell in 2010s by ? [BSBI record]; and found on three occasions in Bristol in 2025 by D. Peters: a single plant at the base of a wall on Ash Road, Bishopston; another on Cromwell Rd, Montpellier; and a small patch in the corner of a grassy raised bed in The Bearpit.

  • Oxalis stricta L. (Upright Yellow-sorrel) - General Rare. A rare garden escape with most records coming from around Bristol. First recorded locally from the north of the region in 1960s by ? [BSBI record].

  • Oxalis articulata Savigny ssp. articulata (Pink-sorrel) / General Scarce A widespread introduction; found on roadsides, derelict sites and on sand dunes.

  • Oxalis acetosella L. (Wood-sorrel) / Woodland A plant of ancient woodland and old hedgebanks; locally frequent but has declined.

  • Oxalis debilis Kunth var. corymbosa (DC.) Lourteig (Large-flowered Pink-sorrel) General Rare A rare introduction, found sparsely scattered over the region; predominantly around Bristol.

[More records on BSBI]

  • Oxalis latifolia Kunth (ssp. latifolia) (Garden Pink-sorrel) General Very Rare Recorded at Portishead in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].

  • Oxalis tetraphylla Cav. (var. tetraphylla) (Four-leaved Pink-sorrel) Recorded at Speedwell, Bristol in 2019 by an iNaturalist recorder; at Downend in 2019 by an iNaturalist recorder [both records look to be in a garden]; and at Worlebury Hill in 2020s by ? [BSBI record].

  • Oxalis incarnata L. (Pale Pink-sorrel) An increasing introduction, found well-established in walls and other places close to habitation.

List:

  • Oxalis corniculata L. (var. corniculata and var. atropurpurea Planch.) (Procumbent Yellow-sorrel) / General
  • Oxalis exilis A. Cunn. (Least Yellow-sorrel) / General
  • Oxalis dillenii Jacq. (Sussex Yellow-sorrel)
  • Oxalis stricta L. (Upright Yellow-sorrel) - General
  • Oxalis articulata Savigny (ssp. articulata - Stace) (Pink-sorrel) / General
  • Oxalis acetosella L. (Wood-sorrel) / Woodland
  • Oxalis debilis Kunth var. corymbosa (DC.) Lourteig (Large-flowered Pink-sorrel)
  • Oxalis latifolia Kunth (ssp. latifolia - Kew, GBIF) (Garden Pink-sorrel) - 1 BSBI record
  • Oxalis tetraphylla Cav. (var. tetraphylla - Kew, GBIF) (Four-leaved Pink-sorrel)
  • Oxalis incarnata L. (Pale Pink-sorrel)

Species to add:

  • Oxalis dillenii Jacq. (Sussex Yellow-sorrel)
  • Oxalis debilis Kunth var. corymbosa (DC.) Lourteig (Large-flowered Pink-sorrel)
  • Oxalis latifolia Kunth (ssp. latifolia - Kew, GBIF) (Garden Pink-sorrel) - 1 BSBI record
  • Oxalis tetraphylla Cav. (var. tetraphylla - Kew, GBIF) (Four-leaved Pink-sorrel)
  • Oxalis incarnata L. (Pale Pink-sorrel)

Could occur:

  • Oxalis valdiviensis Barnéoud (Chilean Yellow-sorrel)
  • Oxalis rosea Jacq. (Annual Pink-sorrel)
  • Oxalis debilis Kunth var. debilis (Large-flowered Pink-sorrel)
  • Oxalis pes-caprae L. (var. pes-caprae - Kew, GBIF) (Bermuda-buttercup)