Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Oxalidales Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Oxalidaceae
Genus
Oxalis L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Oxalis magellanica G.Forst. (1789)
Synonymy:
  • = Oxalis lactea Hook. (1836)
  • = Oxalis cataractae A.Cunn., Ann. Nat. Hist. 3: 315 (1839)
 Description

Perennial, sometimes mat-forming. Stems to c. 15 cm long, thin, creeping, glabrous, rooting at nodes. Lvs 3-foliolate, the rosettes in tufts at intervals, glabrous or hairy. Petiole (0.5)–1.5–5–(9) cm long, often dark reddish; stipules 3–5 mm long, broad and scarious. Lamina of leaflets equal, subsessile or nearly so, 2.5–9 × 2.5–9 mm, broadly obcordate, often dark reddish or deep purple below; sinus broad or narrow, rather shallow. Fls solitary; peduncles slender, 1–6–(11) cm long, hairy. Bracts 2.5–4 mm long, linear-lanceolate, glabrate; calli 0. Sepals 3–5–(6) mm long, ± elliptic, with ± appressed hairs; calli 0. Petals 8–15–(20) mm long, broad-obovate, white, usually glabrous, sometimes ciliate. Stamens at 2 levels, glabrous; filaments not dilated at base. Styles slightly to obviously > longer stamens, glabrous. Capsule 4–5 mm diam., globose. Seed 5–7 mm long, ± ellipsoid-ovoid, with prominent raised reticulations.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Jul.–Apr.

 Bibliography
Cunningham, A. 1839: Florae insularum Novae Zelandiae precursor; or a specimen of the botany of the islands of New Zealand. Annals of Natural History 3: 314–319.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]