purple wood sorrel

Description:

Small but attractive purple five-petalled flowers rowing amidst slightly larger leaves.

Habitat:

Common in open grasslands, grass verges

Notes:

Native to the U:S, this species was first named by a Scottish naturalist. Wood sorrel can be added to soups to give it a tang. If eaten in adequate quantities, the oxalic acid in the leaves might help to bind calcium in the food, facilitating its absorption.