Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:00:34 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ron Vanderhoff <rvanderhoff@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [pbs] Oxalis triangularis? papilionaceae?

Oxalis are a very confused genus taxonomically and many plants labelled
as O. triangularis are probably not. Some?are more likely the closely
related Oxalis regnellii, which also has green and red leaf forms,
sometimes even with two color shades on the same leaf. These are both
soft, acaulescent, leafy plants, with very large (for an Oxalis)
trifoliate leaflets. They form fleshy pseudobulbs.

O. triangularis is native to Brazil and possibly Argentina at rather low
elevations, with year-round moisture and in organic soils. They are a
challenge in my dry Mediterranean climate, going into stress and often
dormancy with sustained temperatures above 80F, esp. with my
low?humidity. Triangularis is?reportedly rather cold hardy, surviving
in?dormancy through winters?at temps?below freezing.