The wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) is commonly found in the underbrush of leafy forests. Its leaves remain green throughout the winter. The flowers are usually white, but there are also some specimens with reddish flowers growing near the Niemenapaja cooking shelter in Uutela.
The sourly tart taste of the wood sorrel’s leaves and flowers is produced by the oxalic acid that they contain. The plant is poisonous when consumed in large quantities.
Photo Jussi Helimäki.