OxALis. OXALIDACE^. 123 



part emarginatc, while they arc only occasionally so in the latter. Like the rest of the species, 

 the whole plant has an agreeably acid flavor, nearly as intense as that of lemons. The ex- 

 pressed juice yields, when purified and evaporated, crystals of the binoxalate of potash, and 

 was formerly sold under the name of Salt of Sorrel, for the purpose of removing inkstains 

 from linen. 



2. OxALis vioLACEA, Liun. Violet Wood-sorrel. 



Bulb scaly ; leaflets obcordate, broader than long, nearly smooth ; scapes longer than the 

 leaves, 3 - 9-flowered ; pedicels umbellate, with minute bracts at the base ; sepals with a 

 thickened orange-colored tip ; petals obovate (violet) ; filaments usually hairy, the exterior 

 ones rather longer than the styles. — Jacq. Oxal. p. 35. t. 80. Jig. 2. fide Willd. sp. 2. p. 786 ; 

 Michx.Jl. 2. p. 39 ; Pursh, fl. I. p. 322 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 525 ; Torr.fl. I. p. 462 ; Bigel.Jl. 

 Best. p. 258 ; DC. prodr. 1. p. 695 ; Zucc. man. Oxal. (1831), p. 273 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. 

 p. 394; Torr. <J- Gr. fl.N.Am. \.p.2U. 



Bulbs clothed with membranaceous 3-nerved scales, the margins of which are fringed with 

 shaggy hairs. Root fibrous, proceeding from a roundish bulb formed of ovate-acuminate im- 

 bricated scales ; the outer ones 3-nerved, membranaceous, and fringed with long shaggy hairs ; 

 the inner ones thick and filled with starch, minutely ciliate : both kinds probably the dilated 

 persistent bases of former petioles (as in Dicentra Cucullaria). Petioles 2-4 inches long. 

 Leaflets with an orange-colored spot at the base of the sinus on the under side, often, in ex- 

 posed situations, of a purple color. Scapes 4-8 inches high, often several together ; pedicels 

 6-10 lines long. Flowers nodding. Sepals oblong, with a roundish 2-lobed gland at the 

 base. Petals bright violet. Filaments sometimes smooth (in specimens from Mr. Oakes). 

 Styles hairy, at first longer, but at length rather shorter, than the stamens : stigmas somewhat 

 2-lobed. Capsule few-seeded. 



Common in woods, particularly in rocky places. April - June ; sometimes flowering again 

 late in the season. • .. 



3. OxALis STRicTA, Linn. Yellow Wood-sorrel. 



Root fibrous, perennial ? stoloniferous ; stem at first erect, branching, at length often 

 spreading or prostrate at the base ; leaflets obcordate ; peduncles 2 - 6-flowered, longer than 

 the leaves ; petals (yellow) entire ; style the length of the inner stamens ; pedicels of the 

 fruit erect. — Jacq. Oxal. t. 4, &x DC. prodr. \. p. 692; Michx. fl. 2. p. 39; Pursh, fl. 1. 

 p. 323 ; Ell. sk. I. p. 526 ; Torr.fl. I. p. 462 ; Bigel. fl. Bast. p. 258 ; Zucc. Oxal. p. 64 ; 

 Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 393 ; Torr. ^ Gr. fl. N. Am. 1. p. 212. 0. Dillenii, Willd. sp. 2. 

 p. 799. O. recurva. Ell. sk.l. c. " \ 



Root producing tortuous, branching, underground stolons, which sometimes run to a con- 

 siderable distance and throw up new plants. Stems 3-12 inches high, smooth or a little 

 hairy. Leaves often partly pseudo-verticillate : leaflets broadly obcordate, slightly ciliate, 



16* 



