Oxalis debilis Kunth var. corymbosa (D.C.) Lourt.

Horticultural & Botanical History

The number of synonyms suggests considerable natural variation in the species.  Johnson’s Dictionary lists the yellow-flowered O. martiana as a true species, together with the white-flowered O. urbica, giving a date of introduction of 1829 for the former and 1828 for the latter. 

‘Sent to the Horticultural Society by Professor Lehmann, of Hamburgh, in 1827, with the name here adopted [Oxalis floribunda].  Its native country is not known to us; it probably is South America.  If grown in a pot, in a cool greenhouse, it flourishes exceedingly, soon acquiring the height of a foot or 18 inches, and producing in great profusion loose bunches of rose-coloured flowers, which are placed upon the end of peduncles diverging from the main stem at nearly right angles, and giving the whole plant the air of a vegetable chandelier of many branches.’  The plant figured has purplish-pink flowers with a white throat.  [BR f.1123/1828].

Curtis’s Botanical Magazine figures Oxalis bipunctata, the accompanying figure showing a mauvish-purple flower, described as lilac in the text, with a white throat [BM t. t.2781/1827].  Oxalis martiana, said to be a variety of Oxalis bipunctata. is also figured, the flower depicted as reddish-orange, described in the text as ‘deep, purple rose’ [BM t. 3938/1842].  

‘This [Oxalis martii] is a native of Mexico: it has lately been introduced by Mr. Barclay.  The name has been given in honour of that celebrated travellor and botanist Von Martius.’  [LBC no.1523/1831].  

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [B.375/1843].  Well established throughout the gardens.  A common weed throughout Australia.

Notes