Reg cc ee tc ee a 
— 
Owalis’| OXALIDE (Sond.) es 
Stemless or caulescent herbs, often with tuberous roots ; rarely suffrutices, shrubs, 
or even trees, with compound, exstipulate leaves ; natives of tropical and sub-tro- 
pical countries, a few straggling into the colder parts of both temperate zones. Ox- 
alis, the largest genus and type of the Order has very many species in South Africa, 
and also abounds in extra-tropical 5. America, where some of the species form rather 
tall shrubs. One is employed at Coquimbo, for house-building ! Its rodlike stems 
are very durable, and are made into a sort of wicker-work-skeleton of the house- 
walls, which are then strengthened and rendered water-tight by mortar and plaster- 
ing. Oxalic-acid is the chief product of the Order, and gives the stems and foliage 
the sharp acidity which recommends them to the thirsty traveller. Some are used 
as "hed, The tuberous roots of several of the American species are starchy and 
used for food. Ovalideee is usually sy, aor as a member of the Geranial sini of 
Orders, and by some botanists is included in Geraniacee. I am more disposed to 
consider them, with De Candolle, allied to Zygophyllee, with which they agree in 
foliage and the albuminous seeds. By Planchon they are associated with Leguminose. 
ay-108 L OXALIS. L. 
Sepals 5, free or united at base. Petals 5, convolute, their claws con- 
niving in oa funnel-shaped tube. Stamens 10, connate at base, 5 alter- 
nate shorter. Styles 5, stigmas capitellate or pencilled. Capsule deeply 
5-lobed, globose or oblong; seeds one or several. DC. Prod. 1. p.6go. 
Endl. Gen. 6058. 
The S. African species of this large genus are, with one exception, bulbous-rooted 
perennials, stemless or caulescent, with alternate or fascicled leaves and scape-like 
peduncles. The leaves are mostly trifoliolate, rarely 1-2-foliolate, or digitately many- 
leafleted. Flowers red, purple, white, yellow, or streaked, appearing in the winter 
and early spring months. Name from otus, acid or sharp; from the taste of the 
foliage. 
KEY TO THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE SPECIES. 
A. Peduncles one-flowered. (Sp. 1-98.) 
I. Leaves simple. (Sp. 1-2. 
II. Leaves bi-foliolate, the petiole broadly a (Sp. st) 
III. Leaves trifoliolate, the potioks not wungne: Sp. 5-89.) 
* Upper leaves crowded, mostly on long petioles. Pedant may emia (3-81) 
(1) Leaflets linear, lanceolate, oblong or oe obolvata 
(a.) Glabrous, or covered with very short, white hairs. 5-32) 
(B.) Clothed with long, jointed, yellowish but not hairs. (Sp. 33- 
ee ee (Sp. 8-43.) | 
lean uae lobed. 
Caulescent. (Sp. 76-80. ) 
() Aestalom: (Sp. 81.) = 
** All the leaves sessile or very 8] ly petiolate, the upper not crowded ; the — 
Bs regal Peduncles , never terminal, Caulescent, (Gp: 
IV. Leaves digitate ; leaflets + 5-19. 6p. 90-98.) 
