This 3-leaved ground cover is often misidentified as a clover but it is not!

Wood sorrel, also called Oxalis or sourgrass, is a tasty trailside snack! The flavor is remarkably similar to green apples and can be a nice addition to sprinkle a few leaves on a salad! Be careful not to eat too many as the oxalic acid can have a negative impact.

A Case of Mistaken Identity!

Wood sorrel and lawn clover are often misidentified. Here are some differences:

Look for the heart!

Wood sorrel has heart-shaped leaves, whereas clover have rounded and toothed leaves.

Blossoms!

The flowers on each plant look very different from each other.

Oxalis oregana

Oregon Wood Sorrel

Description:

Flat-lying, with thick creeping roots. The leaves are divided into 3 heart-shaped leaflets often maroon underneath.
The white to pink flowers bloom on short slender stalks that project above the bright green clover-like leaves.
The small flowers project above its bright green clover-like leaves
They grow on undisturbed floors of redwood or Douglas-fir forests at low elevations
It is a semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial and can form carpets in the shady undergrowth of forests.
Rarity: Common
Flowering Time: All Spring And Summer
Life Cycle: Perennial
Height: 2 to 8 inches
Habitat: Coastal, West-Side Forest
Found In: Olympic Np, Mt. Rainier Np, N Cascades Np, West Gorge
Native: Yes