Oxalis alpina, Alpine Woodsorrel
Scientific Name:
Oxalis alpina
Common Name:
Alpine Woodsorrel
Also Called:
Family: Oxalidaceae, Wood-Sorrel Family
Synonyms: (Ionoxalis alpina, I. compacta, I. immaculata, I. pringlei, I. rupestris, I. seatonii, Oxalis metcalfei, O. monticola)
Status: Native
Duration: Perennial.
Size: Up to 11 inches more or less but mostly low-growing herbaceous herb.
Growth Form: Forb/herb;
Leaves: Green, clover-like with 3 lobes
Flower Color: Pink, violet
Flowering Season: July to September.
Elevation: 5,500 to 9,000 feet.
Habitat Preferences: Rich soils in deciduous and coniferous forests.
Recorded Range: Oxalis alpina is relatively rare in the United States where it occurs in AZ, NM and perhaps TX. In Arizona it is found in the eastern 2⁄3 of the state with few records in Navajo county. In New Mexico it is small scattered populations throughout the state.
North America & US County Distribution Map for Oxalis alpina.
U.S. Weed Information: No information available.
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: No information available.
Wetland Indicator: No information available.
Threatened/Endangered Information: No information available.
37 species in Oxalis in North America; 11 species in Arizona and New Mexico, 13 species in California and 12 species in Texas.
Comments: Reliable information for Alpine Woodsorrel is scant both in publication and on-line sources.
In Southwestern Desert Flora also see Creeping Woodsorrel, Oxalis corniculata and Common Yellow Oxalis, Oxalis stricta.
Similar in appearance to Violet Woodsorrel, Oxalis violacea, an eastern and mid-central United States species.