Geophyte up to 20cm with a partly leafy stem, sometimes branching. Leaves mostly terminal and divided into three narrowish, folded leaflets, with marginal calli (wart-like outgrowths). Bears white flowers with a yellow tube and reddish-purple margins on the underside of the petals. Flowers usually only open in the sunlight.

In the mature fruit the soft outer layer of the seed coat separates elastically from the hard inner layer and shoots out the seed.

Greek: oxys = acid, als = salt; referring to the oxalic acid content of this genus.