Oxalidece .] 
THE COLONY OE VICTORIA. 
177 
pointed but not hairy sepals, by pointed and more ovate capsules, which are nearly twice as long as the calyx, 
and finally by more compressed streaked seeds, of which two usually occur in each cell. 
This species, with its frequent companion Libertia Lawrencii, might be easily naturalized in the Middle 
and North European forests. The identification of the Australian with the antarctic American plant rests on 
the authority of Dr. J. Hooker. 
Oxalis corniculata, L. Sp. PI. 623 ; Jacg. Oxal . 10, t. 5; Engl. Pot. 1. 1726; J . Hook. FI. New 
Zeal. i. 42; FI. Tasm. i. 59; 0. rep tans, Forst. Prodr. 519; 0. microphylla, Poir. Sup>pl . iv. 248; 0. cog- 
nata, Steud. in Lehn. PI. Preiss. i. 160. 
Caulescent, downy; rhizome divided, usually creeping; petioles long, slightly dilated at the base; 
leaves trifoliolate; leaflets broad-obcordate, exappendiculate at the summit; peduncles mostly longer than 
the petioles, with single geminate or umbellate pedicels; bracteoles lanceolate- or subulate-linear; sepals 
less than half as long' as the corolla, oblong-lanceolate; petals yellow , glabrous; filaments smooth, not much 
longer than the calyx, towards the base conspicuously connate; styles short-downy; stigmas simple, convex; 
capsule cylindrical , rostrate , short-hairy , more than twice as long as the catyx; seeds several in each cell, 
compressed, transversely strong-WTinkled, longitudinally costate. 
Common throughout the colony except in the alpine tracts; extending also over the other parts of 
extratropical Australia, and over tropical Australia to the 19 parallel.of southern latitude; further distributed 
over a vast extent of the other parts of the g-lobe, although regarded of American origin. 
Root more or less fusiform or cylindrical or fasciculate, emitting distant-scaly rhizomes. Stems of 
varied length, sometimes reduced to extreme shortness, sometimes extending to several feet and flaccidly 
leaning against surrounding plants, usually of moderate length, diffuse or procumbent, occasionally erect, 
scattered- or dense-hairy, sometimes almost glabrous. Petioles lengthened or shortened in proportion to the 
leaves, thus varying from J-2J inches in length, variable also as regards indument and the basal truncate 
stipular dilatation, the latter being more or less hairy. Leaflets 1J-10 lines long, green, not rarely purplish, 
sometimes velvet-downy, sometimes scattered-hairy, sometimes almost or totally glabrous, with a deep termi¬ 
nal incision. Peduncles J-5 inches long, variously hairy, slender, seldom smooth. Bracteoles f-2 lines long, 
hairy. Pedicels 1-16 in number, slender, varying in length from a few lines to 1J inch. Sepals appressed- 
hairy, 1-3 lines long, more or less acute or obtuse. Petals oblique obovate- or obcordate-cuneate, singularly 
inconstant in size, thus from 2 lines to nearly 1 inch long, sometimes externally tinged with red, not rarely 
ciliolated towards the summit, entire or emarginate, coherent at the short unguis, deciduous. Filaments 
persistent, linear-setaceous, as well as the styles greenish. Anthers yellow, J—J line long, cordate, deciduous. 
Styles f-2 lines long, concrete towards the base, during anthesis somewhat longer than the stamens. 
Stigmas yellow, very papillose, almost penicillar. Capsule usually from |-1 inch long, 1J-2 lines in 
diameter, conically contracted at the summit, rarely shortened to J inch length, with a much abbreviated 
rostrum. Seeds after dehiscence of the livid-fulvous epidermis saturated-brown, hardly shining, ovate, 
slightly pointed, J-§ line long. Cot} T ledons oval, as long as the radicle. 
0. Preissiana (Steud. in Lehm. Plant. Preiss. i. 160), to which probably a white corolla is erroneously 
attributed, appears also referable to 0. corniculata, which species we possess in manifold specimens from 
Western Australia. That yet several other supposed species are to be united under 0. corniculata, from 
which not even the Linnean 0. stricta is specifically discernible, cannot be a subject of doubt. No other than 
the here described species exist in any hitherto explored part of Australia. 
The agreeable acidulous taste of the species of Oxalis is owing to their juice containing Binoxalate 
of potash. The herb is occasionally used as salad, or for preparing refrigerant beverages, but should be 
employed only with very great caution for such purposes, as pernicious effects are experienced from any 
extensive alimentary uses of these plants. 
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