Oxalis tetraphylla

Primary tabs

Oxalis tetraphylla

Description

Stemless herb from bulbous base, no rhizome, no stolons. Inflorescence pseudo-umbellate, 6-25-flowered. Sepals 5-7(-10) by 1½-3 mm, elliptic to lanceolate, obtuse to emarginate, glabrous, ciliate on edge, c. 7-nerved, apical calli 2-6, usually 4, linear, inconspicuous, orange. Petals 1½-2½ by ½-1¼ cm, spathulate-oblong, rounded to retuse, often oblique, glabrous, dark red, when dry often bluish with greenish base. Ovary 1½-5 by 1-3 mm, ellipsoid, glabrous;

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Jawa (Jawa), Northern America, Tjinjiruan
Native of Mexico, cultivated and escaping; in Malesia hitherto only found in Java (Tjinjiruan); introduced before 1911, now quasi-spontaneous.

Uses

Ornamental plant and for ground-cover, but difficult to eradicate; leaves eaten as vegetable (HEYNE, 1927).

Notes

The Malesian specimens belong to var. tetraphylla.

Citation

DENTON 1973 – In: Publ. Mus. Michigan State Univ.: 590
VELDKAMP 1971 – In: Fl. Mal.: 158