Oxalis oligotricha Baker

Oxalidaceae, A. W. Exell. Flora Zambesiaca 2:1. 1963

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb with vertical rhizome up to 10–12 cm. long, usually with a distinct stem up to 15 cm. long but often only 1 cm. long or less.

Vegetative Multiplication Bulbs

Bulb up to 3 × 2 cm., brown, ovoid.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate, usually 2–4 at the apex of the stem (appearing ± basal when the stem is very short); leaflet-lamina 8–35 × 4–20 cm., sessile, subcircular, broadly ovate, broadly elliptic, lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, not lobed or emarginate, pilose when young but ± glabrescent except on the midrib below, ciliate, n- faveolate on both surfaces; petiole up to 12 cm. long, sparsely to rather densely pilose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pale mauve with a greenish-yellow false tube, with pedicels up to 15 mm. long, in 4–10-flowered pseudumbels arising from the leaf-rosettes or sometimes subtended by cauline bracts (reduced leaves) and thus arising below the leaf-clusters; peduncle up to 15 cm. long, hairy like the petioles; bracts up to 6 mm., long, linear-lanceolate to filiform.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 9–13 × 2·5–3 mm., oblong-elliptic, glabrous. Sepals 4–5 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acute, pubescent, with orange-yellow apical calli.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens with 5 longer filaments pubescent and 5 shorter ones sparsely pubescent or glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1·5 × 1 mm., flattened-ellipsoid, glabrous.

Oxalidaceae, Christine H. S. Kabuye  (East African Herbarium). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb, acaulescent or sometimes with a distinct aerial stem up to 15 cm. long, with a vertical rhizome up to 12 cm. long arising from the top of the bulb; bulb up to 1.3–4 cm. long and 1.2 cm. in diameter, the scales broadly ovate-lanceolate, acute to acuminate, brown, smooth with parallel veins; rhizome with membranous scales 2–3 mm. long, which continue asgreen cauline bracts and sometimes subtend the peduncles.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate, in a rosette and either basal or high up on the stem, long-petiolate; leaflets very variable in form and size, broadly ovate, obovate or ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, acute to obtuse at apex, almost glabrous or sparsely hairy above and softly so beneath, ciliate at the margin.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers purple or blue, in pseudumbels; peduncle 10–15 cm. long; bracts linear and variable in length, up to 6 mm. long, pilose; pedicels 1–2 cm. long, with spreading hairs or glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals oblong-lanceolate, 4–5 mm. long, acute with 2 apical calli, pilose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals oblanceolate, 9–13 mm. long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles pubescent, as long as, or longer than, the long-stamen whorl, thus the flowers are either long-styled or homostyled.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule globular, with 3 seeds in each locule.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds flattened-ellipsoid, longitudinally ribbed, brown.

Habitat

Upland grassland and in Brachystegia woodland; 960–1900 m.

Distribution

T7 T8