Dear All, I am enjoying all the participation in the topic of the week and appreciate Robin's moderating as well. One of the things that frustrates me about this genus is all the host of names that people mention. I always want to know where that plant comes from, what kind of soils is it found in, when does it get rainfall in nature, and when does it bloom. I remembered that earlier on the Oxalis group that David Victor told about a checklist to solve that problem. "The author is Richard Clifton, who is the Editor for the Geraniaceae Group. The checklist was produced three years ago and was based on a review of the Index Kewensis, Salter's monograph of South African Oxalis and various flora. It covers the naming of virtually all species of Oxalis and their authorities and limited descriptive material. There is also a wide critique of O. corniculata. The checklist can be obtained from Richard's home address which is 7 Crabble Road, Dover, Kent, England, CT17 0QD. He is not on e-mail. The checklist cost 15 UK pounds. Post and packing is in addition and will cost two pounds for surface mail and more for air mail. Richard cannot accept credit cards. Cheques are a problem because of exchange costs, unless purchased locally and drawn on a correspondent UK bank. Probably cash is best. " Andrew Broome found this resource as a way to obtain it: http://nhbs.com/xbscripts/bkfsrch/… Does this checklist tell where each of the species is from or time of bloom? I've looked at the Kew list before when I have been puzzled about a name and often all that was listed was the name of the plant and the authority and I am afraid I wanted more information than that. For instance I was curious about the origin of the plant that Lauw and Uli were talking about. It isn't in any of my references but I found in one of my saved references that Oxalis crassipes was a plant from Argentina that had become popular in the Gulf south of the USA where it bloomed in spring and sometimes again in fall. One thing that strikes me is that a lot of people are not growing Oxalis in the mix you usually hear associated with it. I looked up what I could find from Micael Vassar and found this: "The potting mix for Oxalis depends on what kind of Oxalis you are planting. I find that the winter growing species from the Western Cape area of South Africa (now correctly the Southern Cape I think) all do best planted in a very poor mix with little or no organic material. In habitat they almost all grow in pure decomposed sandstone. For these winter growing species I use 50% agricultural pumice, 40% washed builder's sand and 10% leaf mould (or less). A mix of pumice and washed builder's sand would be adequate without any organics at all. I fertilize with a 15-30-15 fertilizer at 1/4 strength about once a month. I don't like perlite because of the dust and because it floats to the top in a planting mix. The summer growing African species need a richer mix and can have up to 25% organic material. They tend to have a longer growing season (some are even evergreen). Oxalis species from Central America and Mexico (mostly rhizomatous) are mostly evergreen and also do best in a richer planting mix. I plant all bulbs one inch (2.5cm) deep. Bulbs adjust themselves in the planting mix to the correct depth. It is impossible to distinguish the top from the bottom of some Oxalis bulbs so plant them sideways-always works well. I find that Oxalis grow, flower, and produce replacement bulbs better if grown on the hard side." As I read on I found the following note from Will Ashburner: "I do the opposite to Mike with regards planting mix. Mine is totally organic (shredded composted pine bark and coco peat)with an air fill porosity of 20% and full range of nutrients. They multiply like rabbits and flower etc. I have never seen them in the wild so they may be out of character and too lush, but ignorance is bliss." It sounds like Oxalis are very flexible. Mary Sue Mary Sue Ittner California's North Coast Wet mild winters with occasional frost Dry mild summers