Oxalis corniculata L.

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Oxalidaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Oxalis corniculata L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Decumbent or prostrate herb, to 50 cm long; main stem trailing, rooting at internodes, upright branches to 15 cm tall. Leaves trifoliolate; leaflets obcordate, 0.8-1.2 cm long, membranous, sparsely pilose; petioles 3-4.5 cm long; stipules minute, ciliate. Flowers 2-3 in axillary cymes; pedicels 1-2 cm long. Sepals elliptic, 3-4 mm long, pilose, yellowish green; petals bright yellow, spreading, oblanceolate, 7-8 mm long; stamens with filaments of unequal length, 1.5-2.5 mm long; ovary nearly cylindrical, elongate, 5-locular, the styles 5, free to base, pilose, the stigmas capitate. Capsule ascending, 9-12 mm long, cylindrical, beaked at apex, longitudinally ridged, pilose, green, with persistent sepals, the peduncle reflexed. Seeds nearly elliptic, warty on inner side, ca. 1 mm long.

  • Distribution

    An occasional weed of humid, shaded areas. Road to Bordeaux (A3848), Herman Farm (A870). Also on Tortola; widespread throughout the world.

    Tortola Virgin Islands South America|