Two years ago I transplanted an Oxalis from a nearby garden. The plants grew well and provide a nice ground cover in a shady spot. I tried to identify the species, but cannot find a key that accounts well for the great number of species (>800) and the cultivars that exist. Some of the characteristics are: Plant about 10-15cm high, spreading from thick fleshy rhizomatous stems. Leaves trifoliate, 3.7cm wide, little or no light central stripe, evenly mid green colour.Petiole pubescent, somewhat red tinged. Corolla, 3-merous, deep pink with 7 or 8 deeper coloured veins, petals deep pink, obovate, truncate, 1.5cm wide, 2.3cm long, including a sharply delineated yellow claw 2-3 mm long, forming a distinct yellow centre. Anthers white, exceding the claw. Calix 1cm, green, purple tinged with membranous margins, acuminate, with appressed felty hairs. Can anyone put a name to this specimen or direct me to a key to identify it? Thanks
Redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana) from southern part of range. Up here it has white flowers and all-green leaves. I call the local type Oregon shamrock to differentiate the two, but if you investigate you may find a botanical term has been coined for the pink-and-purple form - I don't know. Some with strong coloring like yours ARE sold under cultivar names by nurseries here.
Thanks Ron, I have seen the white O.o., but not the pink ones. The literature seems a bit obscure about the variations in colour for O.o. Would you happen to know what cultivar name is being used, and if these cvs are the result of selective breeding or just a marketing tool?
THE PLANT LOCATOR - WESTERN REGION lists evergreen form evergreen pink form 'Klamath Ruby' pink 'Rosea' selected form f. smalliana red form 'Smith River White' white 'Wintergreen' Listings of evergreen form and 'Rosea' based on offerings by The Perennial Gardens, Maple Ridge BC.
Thanks Ron, I'll follow through on your suggestions. On the picture you can see the stems that have lost the leaves, so I am presuming it is not an evergreen form. Jim vanB
