Oops, I meant to send this to Christiaan privately. My apologies. ________________________________ From: Ron Vanderhoff <rvanderhoff@sbcglobal.net> To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 7:44:01 PM Subject: Re: [pbs] Interest in Michael Vassar Oxalis I was following the post and your reply about Michael Vasser's Oxalis notes on the PBS page. I would certainly be interested in a copy of whatever you have of his field/collection notes. Also, your Oxalis are on the way. Let me know if they get there safely. Ron Vanderhoff ________________________________ From: Christiaan van Schalkwyk <cvschalkwyk@lantic.net> To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 3:23:29 AM Subject: Re: [pbs] Interest in Michael Vassar Oxalis Hi Celeste - and other interrested parties ! There is a complete list of his Oxalis collections available - and I were fortunate to receive a printed copy of this list from a fellow pbs-er. I scanned the list and converted it to a Word document (19 pages). Unfortunately there are many spelling mistakes, and I haven't gotten round to fix all these, and on the orriginal list those species that either did not survive ar were destroyed are marked, which I have not yet done on the Word document. This list, however, is available to those who want it (Please request it PRIVATELY). (Should I upload it to the wiki?) I see that quite a few of those offered on the BX are labelled as O. luteola. Although I do not have any of those offered, so I cannot speak for them from observation, I do grow some other MV plants that he labelled as O luteola, which are actually O. purpurea. This could be true of MV4960B, and if you look at his description of MV5752, it is definitely not O. luteola. The difference are as follows: O. purpurea OFTEN has shorter peduncles than O luteola, the flowers are thus carried inside or just above the leaves, while O luteola has much longer peduncles, thus the flowers are extended above the leaves. BUT O. purpurea's bracts on the peduncle are ALWAYS alternate, and at or below the middle of the peduncle, while that of O luteola are at a articulation above the middle of the peduncle. There are other differences, like the shape of the buds and the way the leaves dry that are useful, but these could be quite tricky. The Oxalis with Michael Vasser Collection numbers offered on the latest BX were the following: 3. Oxalis MV5567, yellow, dark center O. luteola. 1.2km up road to Paleisheuwel, 60km south of Clanwilliam, in coarse red sand. 1 1/4 inch light yellow flowers with a more golden yellow center; borne on 2 inch peduncles. Linear alternate bracts 1/2 inch up from base. 1 1/4 inch dark green leaves with red hairs at edges, red underside, stems green, center lobe largest, on 2 inch stems. Bracts alternate, linear, ± halfway down stems.. Compact plants, Bulbs dark brown, 1 1/4 inch tall by 3/4 inch wide, tapered at top and bottom; sand sticking to bulbs. + + 4. Oxalis MV6341 O. obtusa. Niuwoudtville area, Bulbs were among bulbs of Lachenalia elegans var. suoveolens. 1 1/2 inch bright yellow flowers two inches above the leaves. Bracts one inch below the flowers, No scent. 3/4 inch leaves in tight, compact rosettes. + + 5. Oxalis MV5630A O. sp. Vanrhynshoek, top of mountain in a level area among big rocks in a dark red, heavy soil. Small, non-winged, light brown bulbs, 3/4 inch light lavender-pink flowers, No bracts. Light sweet scent. Tiny, tufted plants. Plant early. 6. Oxalis MV5532, white/yellow O. ambigua. 123.6km south towards Loeriesfontein below the turnoff from Pofadder on a west facing rock and light brown-red sand, Small plants, forms many bulblets at top of stems, 1 1/2 inch ivory flowers with light yellow centers and a light yellow reverse. Bracts 1/2 inch up from stem base. No scent. 1 inch leaves. + 7. Oxalis MV 4960B O. luteola? 20km southeast of Sutherland, on north facing gravel hill. Bulbs not winged, longer and narrower than 4960. 1 1/2 inch yellow flowers. Central leaf lobe is larger, green underside to leaf. Many tiny bulbs form near and above old bulbs. Bulbs 1 1/8 inch tall by 1/2 inch wide; dark reddish-brown, stiff thin tunics; pointed tip and bottom, bottom not as sharp. 8. Oxalis MV5667 O. luteola, 13,4km south of Nieuwoudtville, full sun, light brown soil. 1 1/2 inch bright yellow flowers. 1 inch diameter leaves, very hairy on surface, green underside, Bracts on flower stems. + + 9. Oxalis MV 5752, yellow O. luteola. 20km into the Pakhuis Pass, 3/4-1 inch medium light golden yellow flowers with a wide shallow tube; 3/4 inch peduncle, Light green hairy sepals, Alternate linear bracts near base of petiole, Leaves dark glaucous, 3/4 inch diameter, red underside, red hairs at edges; light red 3/4 inch stems. Dense, dark leaves, to 3/4 inch, red underside. Leaf rosettes 3 inches in diameter, 1 1/2 inches tall, very compact. + + NOTE: this is probably not O luteola! 10. Oxalis MV5117 O. commutata? Vanrhynshoek, half way up canyon, south slope. Very small rosettes and leaves, compact and dense. 1/2 inch lavender flowers well above the leaves. Petal reverse is half yellow, 1/2-3/4 inch leaves, Must have full sun, Flowers fragrant. + Enjoy Christiaan ----- Original Message ----- > Hello Everyone, > > The new PBS BX has quite a few of the late Michael Vassar's oxalis. I > found descriptions of some on the WIKI but would be interested in knowing > if Michael had passed on notes on his collection and if so, where could I > find them? >