30 



On the Cultivation of the Oxalis Deppei, 



a fresh and agreeable acid, especially in spring. The flowers are 

 excellent in salad, alone or mixed with com salad, endive of both 

 kinds, red cabbage, beet-root, and even with the petals of the 

 Dahlia, which are delicious when thus employed. When served at 

 table, the flowers with their pink corolla, green calyx, yellow 

 stripes and little stamens produce a very pretty effect. The roots, 

 after having been washed and slightly peeled, are gently boiled 

 with salt and water. They are then eaten like asparagus in the 

 Flemish fashion, with melted butter and the yolks of eggs. 

 They are also served up like scorzonera and endive, with white 

 sauce. They form, in whatever way they are dressed, a tender, 

 succulent dish, easy to digest, and agreeing with the most delicate 

 stomach. The analogy of the root with Salep indicates that its 

 effects should be excellent upon all constitutions." 



The plant consists of a tapering, white, semi-transparent tap-root 

 of tender substance ; furnished, chiefly at and near the lower extre- 

 mity, with hair-like fibres, a few of which also proceed from the 

 sides. The centre is generally more or less hollow, with the 

 medullary substance adhering in variously fissured portions. The 

 roots in this case are not however in other respects unsound. 

 Sometimes, from rapid absorption, clefts are formed externally; 

 but this will probably be of rare occurrence under favourable cir- 

 cumstances of soil and climate. 



On the top of the crown, a mass of scaly bulbs appears ; their 

 scales are lined and fringed with orange-brown silky hairs. By 

 means of these buds the plants can be easily and abundantly mul- 

 tiplied. The leaf-stalks are from nine inches to a foot or more in 

 length, supporting four inversely heart-shaped leaflets ; each having 

 a dark-coloured band across its centre ; these bands are somewhat 

 curved, so that when the four leaflets are arranged in a flat equi- 

 distant manner, a tolerably perfect dark circle is formed. The 

 flowers are of a bright rose colour, and are supported on erect 

 scapes above the leaves. 



