David and all, Oxalis bowiei is really quite distinct from Oxalis purpurea. Perhaps the simplist distinction is that O. bowiei is always several flowers per peduncle (usually 8 to 12), whereas O. purpurea is always one flower per peduncle. The flower arrangements make these two species easy to seperate. If no flowers are present, the foliage of O. bowiei is at least twice as large and the leaflets are noticably thicker and almost succulent. Also, the foliage of O. purpurea lies more or less along the ground, seldom more that two or three inches above the soil. The foliage of O. bowiei tends to stands up much higher. Ron Vanderhoff California