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Threats and weeds

Soursob

Oxalis pes-caprae
Dominant groundcover

The yellow-flowered oxalis that carpets disturbed soil through winter.

Soursob, Oxalis pes-caprae, at Skye Sanctuary

How to identify it

  • Clover-like three-part leaves.
  • Bright yellow five-petalled flowers on slender stems, winter into spring.
  • Grows from tiny underground bulbils.

Why it is a problem

Blankets disturbed ground through the cooler months and competes with native seedlings. It spreads from underground bulbils, which is why cultivation and shallow digging just spread it further.

How to control it

Very hard to remove once established. Avoid disturbing the soil, which scatters the bulbils. Persistent spot spraying in active growth, and restoring dense native ground cover to shade it out, are the practical tools. Manage expectations: this is a long game.

Where it is at Skye

Dominant groundcover across the block.

Status at Skye

Widespread on Mount Skye.

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