Short-stemmed or stemless geophyte, almost hairless. Leaves on long stalks, trifoliolate, leaflets heart-shaped, the tip lobed, sometimes with hairs underneath. Inflorescence a 3-20 flowered umbel, the flower stalk twice as long as the leaves, petals bright yellow, the tube whitish.

Carl Thunberg (1773) records that a crystalline salt (oxalic acid) was readily formed from the juice of the plants and was extracted by early settlers (Salts-of-lemon). It was formerly used for removing ink stains and the name Salts-of-lemon became erroneously applied, since the sap of Oxalis contains an oxalate of lime and not citric-acid which is the active principle of the real Salts-of-lemon.

Traditionally enjoyed by children who suck out the sour juices from the bottom of the stem.

The species was introduced into Australia where it has become a severe weed.