Oxalis hirta L.
hairy oxalis
Perennial herb; bulbs 2-2.5 cm long, broad-ovoid; outer tunic brown; skin pale pink below. Stems to 25 cm high, the main one erect, usually with a few erect branches, hairy. Lvs 3-foliolate, cauline. Petioles 0.5-3 mm long; stipular wing hairy, often rather narrow and inconspicuous. Petiolule < 0.5 mm long. Lamina of leaflets equal, 4-11 × 1.5-4 mm, oblanceolate to obovate, densely hairy below, glabrous above, copiously dotted with glands; apex emarginate or rounded. Fls solitary; pedicels (1.5)-3-8 cm long, densely hairy. Bracts situated in upper 1/2 of pedicel, 3-4.5 mm long, linear or linear-subulate, hairy; calli 0. Sepals 6-6.5 mm long, narrow-triangular, densely clothed in white hairs, obtuse; calli 0. Petals 2-2.5 cm long, hairy outside; lower tubular part yellow; limb bright or deep pink, broad-obovate. Stamens in 2 whorls, glabrous; filaments united below, those of longer whorl c. 6 mm long. Styles much > stamens in some fls, < upper stamen whorl in others, puberulent above, with patent white hairs towards base. Capsule not seen.
N.: Auckland, Tauranga, Te Awamutu; S.: Nelson, Balclutha.
South Africa 1899
Waste places, especially open areas near gardens; an occasional escape from cultivation.
FL Apr-Aug.
The wild plants all belong to one of the more ornamental, large-flowered forms of this sp. In South Africa it is very widespread and variable.
