Taxon:  Oxalis pes-caprae L.



Summary
Genus:
Oxalis
Family:
Oxalidaceae
Nomen number:
70471
Place of publication:
Sp. pl. 1:434.  1753
Verified:
09/14/1995 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
1 (0  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Oxalis cernua Thunb.

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)
Disseminule drawings\; A: Seed; B: embryo in situ; C: transection of seed

Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. Arnold, T. H. & B. C. De Wet, eds. 1993. Plants of southern Africa: names and distribution. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa no. 62
  4. Brako, L. & J. L. Zarucchi. 1993. Catalogue of the flowering plants and gymnosperms of Peru. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 45
  5. Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen
  6. Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
  7. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  8. Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
  9. Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
  10. Holm, L. et al. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds
  11. Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
  12. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. 2008. Flora del Conosur. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares.
  13. Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
  14. International Development Consortium. Invasive species compendium (on-line resource).
  15. Kellerman, T. S. et al. 1988. Plant poisonings and mycotoxicoses of livestock in Southern Africa Note: poisonous
  16. Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Note: poisonous
  17. Lourteig, A. 2000. Oxalis L. subgéneros Monoxalis (Small) Lourt., Oxalis y Trifidus Lourt. Bradea 7:593.
  18. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  19. Ortega-Sada, J. L. 1987. Flora de interes apicola y polinizacion de cultivos.
  20. Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
  21. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  22. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  23. Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
  24. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
EnglishAfrican wood-sorrel  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
EnglishBermuda-buttercup  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Englishbuttercup oxalis  1Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
Englishdrooping wood-sorrel  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
EnglishEnglishweed  1Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Englishlarge yellow soursob  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
Englishsoursob  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
EnglishSouth African wood-sorrel  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
Englishyellow-flower oxalis  1Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS). Australian plant common name database (on-line resource).
Germannickender Sauerklee  2Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen
Swedishgetoxalis  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaNamibia  Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaSouth AfricaEastern Cape Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaSouth AfricaNorthern Cape Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
1NativeAfricaSouthern AfricaSouth AfricaWestern Cape Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
2Cultivated    also cult. 
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaPortugalAzores Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaPortugalMadeira Islands Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaSpainCanarias Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
4NaturalizedAfricaNortheast Tropical AfricaEritrea  Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
4NaturalizedAfricaNortheast Tropical AfricaEthiopia  Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
4NaturalizedAfricaNorthern AfricaAlgeria  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4NaturalizedAfricaNorthern AfricaEgypt  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4NaturalizedAfricaNorthern AfricaLibya  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4NaturalizedAfricaNorthern AfricaMorocco  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4NaturalizedAfricaNorthern AfricaTunisia  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateChinaChina  Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaEgyptSinai Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIran  Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIsrael  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaJordan  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaLebanon  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaSyria  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4NaturalizedAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaTurkey  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentIndia  International Development Consortium. Invasive species compendium (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentPakistan  Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
4NaturalizedAustralasiaAustraliaAustralia  International Development Consortium. Invasive species compendium (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedAustralasiaNew ZealandNew Zealand  Arnold, T. H. & B. C. De Wet, eds. 1993. Plants of southern Africa: names and distribution. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa no. 62
4NaturalizedEuropeNorthern EuropeUnited Kingdom  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedEuropeSoutheastern EuropeGreece incl. CreteTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedEuropeSoutheastern EuropeItaly incl. Sardinia, SicilyTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedEuropeSouthwestern EuropeFrance incl. CorsicaTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedEuropeSouthwestern EuropePortugal  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpain incl. BalearesTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedNorthern America United States s. 
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaArgentina  Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. 2008. Flora del Conosur. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaChile  Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. 2008. Flora del Conosur. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaUruguay  Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. 2008. Flora del Conosur. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares.
Native
Africa
  • SOUTHERN AFRICA: Namibia, South Africa [Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape]
Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized
Africa
  • MACARONESIA: Spain [Canarias], Portugal [Azores, Madeira Islands]
  • NORTHERN AFRICA: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
  • NORTHEAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Eritrea, Ethiopia
Asia-Temperate
  • WESTERN ASIA: Egypt [Sinai], Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey
  • CHINA: China
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India, Pakistan
Australasia
  • AUSTRALIA: Australia
  • NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand
Europe
  • NORTHERN EUROPE: United Kingdom
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Greece (incl. Crete), Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily)
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal
Northern America
  • REGION: United States (s.)
Southern America
  • SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay

Reference(s)
  1. Arnold, T. H. & B. C. De Wet, eds. 1993. Plants of southern Africa: names and distribution. Mem. Bot. Surv. S. Africa no. 62
  2. Germishuizen, G. & N. L. Meyer, eds. 2003. Plants of southern Africa: an annotated checklist. Strelitzia 14 National Botanical Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.
  3. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  4. Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
  5. Hedberg, I. & S. Edwards. 1989-. Flora of Ethiopia Note: Eritrea added in 2000
  6. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. 2008. Flora del Conosur. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares.
  7. International Development Consortium. Invasive species compendium (on-line resource).
  8. Nasir, E. & S. I. Ali, eds. 1970-. Flora of [West] Pakistan.
  9. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  10. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Bee plantshoney production Ortega-Sada, J. L. 1987. Flora de interes apicola y polinizacion de cultivos.
Environmentalornamental Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisonsmammals Kellerman, T. S. et al. 1988. Plant poisonings and mycotoxicoses of livestock in Southern Africa Note: poisonous
Weed  Parsons, W. T. & E. G. Cuthbertson. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia Inkata Press, Melbourne, Australia.
Weed  Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=70471. Accessed 15 April 2026.