Oxalis bowei and root morphology...

Chad Schroter Chad.Schroter@sandisk.com
Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:59:47 PST
 
I unpotted a small Oxalis boweii from a shared large deep 20" pot the other day and in addition to the "normal" large bulbs at the surface there were several very large root growths circling the bottom of the pot (and also some purple tubers of ipomoea..) the connection to the surface was barely noticeable if any. Each growth (some in pairs) is smooth translucent white, nearly 12" long and about 1" in diameter at the widest point tapering to a point on each end. On one end of each were some flat wrinkly structures somewhat leaf like in appearance.

I have seen similar if much smaller root expansion on my 'beloved' O. pes caprae, but those are always strongly connected to the main stem, and don't have any "leafy" growths...

Do these things have a name ? They are somewhat scary looking...

Chad Schroter
Los Gatos, CA zone 9


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