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alpine woodsorrel

Scientific Name: Oxalis alpina

Family: Oxalidaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Alpine Woodsorrel (Oxalis alpina) and Mountain Sorrel (Oxyria digyna)

This page provides information on two plants commonly known as "sorrel": Alpine Woodsorrel (Oxalis alpina), and Mountain Sorrel (Oxyria digyna). Though both share similar common names, they belong to different plant families.

Considerations for Pets and Children

  • Members of the wood-sorrel family (Oxalis) bear three-lobed leaves.

Scientific Classification and Nomenclature

Oxalis alpina (Alpine Woodsorrel)
  • Common Names: Alpine Woodsorrel
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species
  • Synonyms:
    • Oxalis metcalfei (Small) R. Knuth
    • Oxalis monticola Small
Oxyria digyna (Mountain Sorrel)
  • Common Names: Mountain Sorrel, Wood Sorrel, Alpine Sorrel, Alpine Mountainsorrel
  • Family: Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae) or Dock Family (Polygonaceae)
  • Synonym: Rheum digynum

Distribution and Habitat

  • Oxyria digyna (Mountain Sorrel) is noted as being common.
  • Oxalis alpina (Alpine Woodsorrel) is found in Yavapai County, Arizona, and the Santa Rita Mountains.
  • Both are found in alpine and subalpine meadows and can be found in the Swiss Alps.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Oxyria digyna (Mountain Sorrel) is a perennial herb with a taproot.
  • Oxalis alpina (Alpine Woodsorrel) flowers are pink or lavender, with five petals, and borne on long, slender peduncles. Some flowers are very pale, almost white. The leaves are arranged alternately and are palmately compound.
  • Wood Sorrel is described as a creeping perennial that grows up to 15 inches in height.

Genetic Information

  • Twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci have been isolated from polyploid alpine wood-sorrel, Oxalis alpina (Oxalidaceae).

Quirky Facts

  • Will Ingwersen described the flowers of the Alpine Woodsorrel to be "great goblets of glowing portwine ruby".

Additional Resources

  • Dave's Garden: A community for sharing gardening tips and ideas.
  • Discover Life: Provides information about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Oxalis alpina.