| Author: |
Giovanni Ignazio Molina, 1810 |
| Family: |
OXALIDACEAE |
| Origin: |
S
Argentina, C+S Chile, New Guinea, New Zealand, Tasmania +
Victoria; Australia |
| Soil: |
Mix |
| Water:
|
Maximum |
| Sun: |
Maximum |
| Thickness: |
3
Centimetres |
| Height: |
20
Centimetres |
| Flower:
|
Pink |
| Propagate: |
Seeds |
| Names:
|
- |
| Synonyms: |
Oxalis rubrotincta
Lindl.
Oxalis magellanica Forst.
Acetosella magellanica, Kuntze.
Acetosella modesta, Kuntze.
Oxalis carnosa, Molina.
Oxalis cataractae, A.Cunn.
Oxalis fuegensis, R.Knuth.
Oxalis lactea, Hook.
Oxalis modesta, Phil.
Oxalis novae-zelandiae, Gand.
"Oxalis carnosum". |
This member of the Oxalidaceae family was described by Giovanni Ignazio Molina in 1810. It´s found in
southern
Argentina, central and southern Chile, New Guinea, New Zealand, Tasmania
and
Victoria in Australia.
It is growing in a well-drained soil
with lots of water and sun. The flowers are pink and cleistogamous - they are self-fertilised even before they
open. When the fruit is ripe, a special mechanism is set off. The stem
and small caudex will get three centimetres in diameter, the stems grow to
ten centimetres.
The genera name means 'sharp,
pungent', as to leaf taste. The species name reefers to the
flesh-coloured flowers.
WARNING: This plant will spread fast, thanks to it's exploding
seed-capsules.
THIS IS NOT OXALIS
MEGALORRHIZA!
This
species has been constantly misidentified as Oxalis megalorrhiza,
Jacquin 1794 since the publication of coloured plates by Lindley in
1827, and Hooker in 1828. However, Dandy & Young, 1959 resolved
the problem, and later Porter in 1974 concisely explained the
situation. Despite this, resent work on succulents, notably Jacobsen
in 1960, Ríha & Subik in 1981 and Rowley in 1987 have continued
with the use of the illegitimate and misapplied name.
This is a
winter-grower, but do fine all year.
|
