OXALIS 



GEBANIUM OBDEB 



OXALIS 293 



There is only one drawback to most of 

 the beautiful flowered Oxalis : and that is 

 the peculiarity of closing their flowers 

 except during the brightest sunshine. 

 When fully expanded in the sun they 

 present a really fine sight. 



O. Acetosella {CommonWoocL Sorrel ; 

 Stuhwort). — A native of moist, shady 

 places in the British Islands. Leaves 3- 

 lobed, with obcordate, somewhat downy 

 leaflets. Flowers from April to August 

 ^-f in. across, white, veined with purple. 

 Some plants produce also a smaller and 

 shorter stalked flower, which does not 

 open, but fertilises itself and produces 

 seed. 



Culture Sc. as above. Increased by 

 division and seed. The young tender 

 leaves are sometimes used as a salad. 



O. arenaria. — A Chilian species about 

 4 in. high, with a rootstook of fleshy 

 scales. Leaves with 3 or 4 two-lobed, 

 obcordate leaflets, glaucous beneath. 

 Flowers bright violet-purple, over an 

 inch across, 3-10 on a stalk. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 division. 



O. Bowiei. — A brilliant bulbous 

 perennial 6-10 in. high, native of S. 

 Africa. Leaves divided into 3 blunt 

 obcordate lobes, slightly downy beneath. 

 Flowers in summer, rich rosy-red, about 

 I5 in. across, yellowish inside at the base, 

 several on a stalk. 



Culture do. as above. This fine species 

 is often used for bedding out, making a 

 rich border. Increased by division. 



O. corniculata. — A small downy 

 annual or biennial, found almost every- 

 where except the coldest regions. Leaves 

 stipulate, 3-foliolate. Flowers from spring 

 to autumn, yellow, with emarginate petals. 

 The variety rubra has handsome bronzy 

 foliage. 



Culture So. as above. Useful as a 

 carpeting plant. 



O. elegans. — This tufted species, about 

 6 in. high, is a native of the Andes at an 

 elevation of about 7,000 ft. The leaves 

 are composed of 3 wedge-shaped leaflets, 

 about 1 in. long, green above, purple be- 

 neath. The rich purple flowers, each 

 about 1 in. across, are produced in umbels 

 of 6-9 during the summer months. 



Culture Ac. as above. This is quite 

 hardy in favourable parts of the south and 

 west. 



O. enneaphylla. — A native of Fuegia 

 abovit 4 in. high. Leaves with from 9 to 

 20 leaflets, usually in 2 series, smooth, 

 glaucous, more or less wedge-shaped. 

 Flowers in June, white or pale rose, 

 nearly \\ in. across, sometimes with 

 pale purple veins and a watery green 

 centre. 



Culture £c. as above. This species 

 has proved hardy at Kew, planted in the 

 rockery in a rather moist and shaded 

 position. It is best, however, protected 

 from heavy rains diiring the winter sleep 

 of its ovoid bulb-like tubers, the largest of 

 which are sometimes 2 in. long. 



O. floribunda (0. rosea). — A Chilian 

 species 9-12 in. high, with 3-foliolate 

 leaves. Leaflets obcordate. Flowers in 

 summer, rosy, with darker veins. 

 Culture etc. as above. 

 O. hirta. — A very variable S. African 

 species with thin decumbent leafy stems, 

 each leaf being almost stalkless and out 

 into 3 narrow lobes about ^ in. long. The 

 rich purple, lilac, or violet flowers are 

 about 1| in. across, and appear singly in 

 the axils of the leaves. Sometimes the 

 whole length of the stem — 12-18 inches — 

 is clothed with the blossoms, and the plant 

 then looks charming. 

 Culture dc. as above. 

 O. lasiandra. — A beautiftil Mexican 

 species 9-18 in. high, with digitate leaves ; 

 leaflets 3 in. long, ovate spoon-shaped, 

 wavy, spotted with crimson beneath. 

 Flowers in summer, crimson, finely 

 downy outside, about 20 on a stalk, and 

 each about 1 in. across. 

 Culture dc. as above. 

 O. lobata. — A stemless ChUian species 

 about 3 in. high, with 3-lobed leaves 

 rather glaucous beneath. Flowers in late 

 summer, bright yellow, spotted or pen- 

 cilled with red in the centre. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 division. 



O. luteola. — A bulbous-rooted South 

 African species about 3 in. high, with 

 3-lobed leaves, having obcordate leaflets. 

 Flowers from early spring to autumn, 

 over an inch across when fully open, soft 

 creamy-yellow, one on a stem. 

 Culture dc. as above. 

 O. striata. — A North American species 

 li ft. high, naturalised in various parts 

 of Britain, with 3-lobed leaves ; leaflets 

 obcordate. Flowers in summer and 

 autumn, yellow, 2-6 on a stalk. 



