Oxalis versicolor L.
peppermint rock oxalis
Perennial herb; bulb with black, ± shining tunic. Stems erect, to 15 cm tall, glabrous or somewhat hairy, pink, with most lvs clustered at top. Lvs 3-foliolate. Petiole 0.2-5 cm long, hairy; stipules adnate to petiole, inconspicuous. Lamina of leaflets sessile, ± equal, 7-14 × 1.5-4 mm, narrow-linear to linear-oblong, broadest at apex, glabrous above, hairy below; apex emarginate with orange calli on each side of groove. Fls solitary; peduncle 2-4 cm long, hairy. Bracts 1.5-2.5 mm long, narrow-linear; calli prominent. Sepals 3.5-5 mm long, oblong-elliptic, hairy; calli 2, orange. Petals (1.3)-1.6-1.9 cm long, obovate and somewhat oblique, white with prominent rose margin (appearing striped in the convolute bud), glandular-hairy outside. Stamens at 2 levels; longer whorl much > styles; filaments minutely puberulent, dilated in lower 1/2. Styles intermediate between the 2 stamen whorls, 2-2.5 mm long, puberulent. Capsule not seen.
N.: Auckland area (several places), Tauranga.
S.W. Cape, South Africa 1976
Wasteland and similar habitats near gardens.
FL Aug-Nov.
This attractive sp. is fairly commonly cultivated in N.Z. and is related to O. polyphylla (see under key).
