196 



OXALIDACEAE. 



straight, in fleshy endosperm, 

 chiefly of tropical distribution. 



About 15 genera and over 300 species, 



Plants acaulescent. 



Plantis with elongated rootstocks. 



Plants with coated bulbs. 

 Plants caulescent. 



1. Bolboxalis. 



2. lonoxalis. 



3. Xanthoxalis. 



1. BOLBOXALIS J. K. Small. 



Perennial acaulescent herbs with bulblet-bearing rootstocks. Leaves long- 

 petioled, 3-foliolate, the leaflets sessile. Inflorescence long-peduncled, cymose, 

 the pedicels subtended by scale-like bracts. Sepals 5, each with 2 tubercles at 

 the apex. Petals 5, bright yellow, large. Stamens 10; filaments united at the 

 base, the longer ones appendaged. Styles slender. Stigmas capitate. [Greek, 

 bulbiferous Oxalis.]- About 6 African species, the following typical. 



1. Bolboxalis cernua (Thunb.) J. 

 K. Small. XoDDiXG Yellow Wood- 

 sorrel. Bermlt)a Buttercup. (Fig. 

 216.) Scapes 16' high or less, erect, 

 longer than the leaves. Leaflets 

 broader than long, deeply obcordate, 

 somewhat pubescent beneath, 1^ 

 wide or less; cyme several-flowered; 

 pedicels pubescent, ^'-1' long; flowers 

 nodding, about li' wide; sepals lan- 

 ceolate, about 3" long; capsules about 

 4" long. [Oxalis cernua Thunb.] 



Waste and cultivated grounds. 

 Escaped from cultivation. Native of 

 South Africa. Flowers in winter and 

 spring. Introduced also into Florida and 

 Mexico. A showy, yellow-flowered spe- 

 cies, much planted in Bermuda gardens. 



2. lONOXALIS J. K. Small. 



Perennial acaulescent herbs, with scaly bulbs. Leaves basal, the petioles 

 dilated at the base; the blades palmately 3-10-f oliolate ; leaflets notched at the 

 apex usually with orange tubercles in each sinus. Scapes erect, usually topped 

 by umbel-like cymes. Flowers perfect, heterogenous. Sepals 5, wdth tubercles 

 at the apex. Petals 5, rose-purple, rose-violet or white, much longer than the 

 sepals. Stamens 10; filaments usually pubescent, united at the base. Cap- 

 sule 5-celled. Seeds wrinkled, grooved or tubercled. [Greek, purple Oxalis.] 

 Over 50 species, natives of America. Type species: Oxalis violacea Ij. 



Cymes compound ; leaflet-lobes rounded. 

 Cymes simple ; leaflet-lobes ovate. 



1. I. Martiana. 



2. /. intermedia. 



