Oxalis corniculata subsp. corniculata var. atropurpurea
Common name
creeping woodsorrel, horned oxalis
Family
Oxalidaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Gardens, most commonly in sunny sites with shallow soils such as rock gardens, around the bases of potted plants and gravel paths and driveways.
Detailed description
Mostly rosettes of ground-hugging foliage; lacking bulbs, tap root thicker than in var. corniculata; occasionally rooting at nodes; foliage and stems purple-green; leaves glabrous above; peduncle and calyx purple, capsule hairs rather dense and ± touching, eglandular, seed c. 1.5 mm long usually with 9-11 acute ridges.
Flower colours
Yellow
Life cycle
Seeds dispersed by ballistic projection, wind and water (Thorsen et al., 2009)
Etymology
oxalis: From the Greek word oxus meaning acid or sharp
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by C.C. Ogle, 12 Sept. 2014. Description adapted from Allan (1961).
References and further reading
Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309
Webb, C.J.; Sykes, W.R.; Garnock-Jones, P.J. 1988. Flora of New Zealand Volume IV, Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons: 916.