A little unknown gem

[Bulbous]

This little guy popped up in a pot I had thought was empty.  I'm not sure which BX I received it from but it is an interesting little thing.  I'm not sure if it is even a bulb!

Anyone have an idea of what it might be?

Jim Foster
Santa Barbara

[CG100]

Oxalis, probably a S African species.
I like them, but I am also a very long way from an expert, and there are also countless species worth growing, althogh many look similar in and out of flower - cruise the PBS information about the genus.
Many species occur in several or even many colour forms.

https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Oxalis

[Martin Bohnet]

probably Oxalis hirta

. more than likely that it had slipped in between somewhere, especially if one tends to reuse potting medium.

[Uli]

Yes, it is Oxalis hirta. A very nice, non invasive plant. A typical winter grower with a dry summer dormancy. If you give it some fertilizer and prevent drying out until around mid May, it will grow much bigger and flower for a long time.

[Bulbous]

Thank you Uli!

[Robert_Parks]

... I'm not sure if it is even a bulb!

Indeed, most likely, Oxalis hirta, an easy and vigorous plant.

Yes, a true bulb, although Oxalis does indulge in pretty much all the ways of geophyte storage. Mediterranean climate, although mine tend to want to start in September, which is way before the natural rains. Probably eaten by gophers, if you are thinking of planting out.

Robert
in newly rainy San Francisco

[Bulbous]

I have a fairly god size fluted pot that I'm going to plant this little guy along with another unknown that is in full flower (white) and is only 1 inch tall. I'll be posting a picture of that one in a couple of days.

You are right about the gophers.  You sent me a collection a few years back and the gophers got every one of them.

Enjoy the rain, we are still dry here in Santa Barbara and we might have a dry year given the conditions.