Herbs perennial, caulescent, rhizomes present (sometimes appearing taprootlike), stolons absent, bulbs absent. Aerial stems (1–)2–8 from base, erect initially, often becoming decumbent or prostrate <and stolonlike, rarely rooting at nodes>, 10–25 cm, usually herbaceous, sometimes becoming woody proximally, densely and evenly strigillose to strigose from base to peduncles and pedicels, <hairs straight, antrorsely appressed, nonseptate, sharp-pointed>. Leaves basal and cauline; stipules oblong, margins narrowly flanged or without free portions, apical auricles absent; petiole 1–4 cm, <hairs nonseptate>; leaflets 3, green, obcordate, (4–)6–15(–21) mm, lobed 1/5–1/3 length, abaxial surface sparsely strigillose, adaxial surface glabrous, oxalate deposits absent. Inflorescences usually umbelliform cymes, rarely irregular cymes, 1–3(–8)-flowered; peduncles 1–6(–10) cm. Flowers mostly homostylous; sepal apices without tubercles; petals yellow, without red lines, (2.5–)4–8 mm. Capsules angular-cylindric, abruptly tapering to apex, 12–20(–25) mm, densely strigose-pilose, <hairs both appressed and spreading>, with puberulent understory. <Seeds brown, transverse ridges with strong grayish or white lines>. 2n = 18, 20, 22, 24.
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Cespitose perennial without rhizomes, erect to decumbent, but scarcely creeping, mostly antrorsely strigose with nonseptate, pointed hairs, the erect part of the stem light greenish, to 4 dm; stipules to 3 mm, or much smaller; lfls 1–2 cm wide; infl umbelliform, the pedicels abruptly divaricate or deflexed at maturity, but with erect frs; pet yellow, 4–10 mm; fr 1.5–2.5 cm, usually grayish-strigose; seeds brownish, conspicuously rugose transversely, the ridges whitish; 2n=18–24. Nearly cosmopolitan weed, often in natural habitats as well, probably originally native to N. Amer. Numerous infraspecific segregates are often defined on the habit and the amount and distribution of the pubescence. (O. filipes; O. florida; O. stricta, misapplied; Xanthoxalis brittoniae; X. colorea)
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