Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Oxalis livida Jacq. var. livida Jacq.

No definitive description at present.  Various internet sources illustrate a low growing species with 3-lobed leaves, the lobes rounded and indented at the apex, and bright yellow flowers, to 3cm across.  However, the illustrations of Oxalis dentata in Jacquin’s Oxalis: Monographia Iconibus Illustrata (1794) and Oxalis lateriflora in Plantorum Rariorum Horti Caesarei Schoenbrunnensis (1797-1804) show a long-stemmed plant with similar leaves but flower spikes bearing up to 4 purplish-red flowers.

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Britain in 1793.  [JD].  Jacquin O. p.38 t.7/1794.

History at Camden Park

Oxalis dentata is marked with a ‘c’ in an 1836 edition of Loddiges’ catalogue held at Camden Park [CPA].  In William Macarthur’s code, used and explained elsewhere, this means grown at Camden.  It is almost certain that it was grown in the gardens around this time but may have been short lived as it did not appear in the catalogues.  A plant similar to that illustrated in Plantorum Rariorum Horti Caesarei Schoenbrunnensis grows in the gardens, confined to one shady spot.  It has been provisionally identified as Oxalis rosea Jacq. but awaits definitive identification.

Notes

Oxalis dentata Eckl. & Zeyh. (1834) = Oxalis pes-caprae L. which see.

Published Jan 28, 2010 - 05:22 PM | Last updated Jan 28, 2010 - 05:32 PM

Figured are bulb, roots, stem, the trifoliate leaves and purplish flowers in pairs.  Jacquin Oxalis t.7, 1794.

Oxalis livida Jacq var. livida Jacq. | Jacquin O. t.7/1794 as Oxalis dentata | BHL

Family Oxalidaceae
Category
Region of origin

South Africa

Synonyms
  • Oxalis dentata Jacq.
  • Oxalis phellandroides E.Mey. ex Meisn.
  • Oxalis caprina Eckl. & Zeyh.
  • Oxalis livida Jacq. var. dentata (Jacq.) R.Knuth
  • Oxalis lateriflora Jacq.
Common Name
Name in the Camden Park Record

Oxalis dentata 

Confidence level high