OERANIACEJ-:. 



lu this case the petiole may be dilated into a phyllodium at the 

 summit of which the limb may be reduced to a very small size or 



O.valis pnrpnrata. 



Oxalis articulata. 



Oxalis (Biophi/tum) sens 



Fig. 66. Habit. 



even disappear altogether. But what is more variable in this g'enus 

 is the organization and form of the stem. This is sometimes aerial , 

 cylindrical, and woody or herbaceous. 

 Elsewhere it consists of a rhizome more 

 or less swollen and fleshy in the cortical 

 parts (fig. 64, 65), its evolutions presenting 

 pretty numerous variations. It may be- 

 come a reservoir of sap and jDresent a cylindri- 

 cal form, thick, or nearly globular, resembling 

 a full bulb (flg. 68) like one or several roots 

 which then take the form of conical taproots 

 and certain buds, sometimes terminal some- 

 times axillary fig. (64,65). These buds, be- 

 coming quite fleshy and covered with scars, 



may appear like tubers of the Potato (fig. 68), and in this case 

 especially they become edible. The flowers^ are axillary, solitary 



67. Dohi.sccnt frt 



Sleep-phenomenn have Iteen noticed in a great 

 number of speeies of Oxalis with plurifoliolate 

 leaves (fig. 55). 

 VOL. V, 



1 White yellow, pink, purple, or diverse 

 coloured, or shaded. 



