Scientific Family
Oxalidaceae
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
4 to 16 inches
Riparian
Yes
Stems are loose and tending to ascend.
Yellow petals and densely appressed hairs with prostrate or creeping stems that do not root distinguishes this from other Oxalis sp.
Habitat
Usually found in moist soils and in partial shade.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
2500
High elevation
7500
Flower Characteristics
Flower stalks are over 1/2 inch long and strongly bent downward in fruit. Sepals are under 1/4 inch long, narrow and reddish or purplish toward the tip. Petals are 1/4 inch to slightly under 1/2 inch in length. Petals are clawed and joined at the base.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
November
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaf stems are slender 1 to 4 inches long. Has 3 leaflets that are inversely heart shaped less than 1/4 inch to over 1/2 inch in length and about as wide.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Triangular
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Capsules are cylindrical and 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch in length and minutely hairy. Fleshy, explosive capsules.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Green
Seeds have a fleshy covering; 1/16 inch long.