Oxalis obtusa Jacq.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘We received [Oxalis cupraea] in the summer of 1823, from the Cape of Good Hope, and, in consequence of its late arrival, it did not flower till October and November. […] It may be kept in the green house, and potted in sandy peat and loam: it increases itself by offsets from the root.’  [LBC no.824/1824].  ‘The foliage of this very pretty plant only rises to 2 or 3 inches, but forms a lovely green carpet.  The flowers are of a pretty yellow, slightly tinged with coppery colour.  They just rise above the green mass of leaves, and shine with a beautiful striking contrast.’  [FC p.269/1852].  

History at Camden Park

Oxalis cuprea was introduced to Britain in 1822.  [JD].Oxalis cupraea is listed in Loddiges’ 1836 catalogue and marked with a ‘c’ in a copy held at Camden Park.  This means that it was almost certainly grown in the gardens sometime between 1836 and 1845.  ‘Oxalis cuprina’ of the catalogues may well be a typographical error with Oxalis cuprea intended.

Notes

The plant figured as Oxalis caprina by both Jacqin [Oxalis: Monographia Iconibus Illustrata tab.76, fig.1/1794] and in Loddiges Botanical Cabinet [LBC no.1109/1826] is almost certainly Oxalis pes-caprae L. which see.  This is an unlikely identification for ‘Oxalis cuprina’.

Oxalis caprina E.Mey. ex Harv. & Sond. (1860) = Oxalis pes-caprae L which see.

Oxalis caprina Thunb. (c.1820) = Oxalis pes-caprae L. which see.

Oxalis caprina Eckl & Zeyh. (1834) = Oxalis livida Jacq.