There are more than 200 species of Oxalis in South Africa and 270 varieties and probably many new species as well. The only handbook on the Southern African species, by Salter, is almost sixty years old and out of print so there are many challenges in identifying them. Cape Plants, a conspectus of the Cape flora of South Africa by Peter Goldblatt and John Manning lists 118 in the Cape Floral Kingdom but there is only a brief botanical description, location sometimes with habitat information, and time of bloom in this book.
South African species A-B are found on this wiki page.
South African oxalis C – South African oxalis D-E – South African oxalis F-G – South African oxalis H-K – South African oxalis L-M – South African oxalis N-O – South African oxalis P – South African oxalis R-S – South African oxalis T-Z – South American oxalis – Miscellaneous oxalis – Oxalis index
Oxalis adenodes is one of my favourites. This species is quite variable in size and degree of hairiness, and has a large geographic distribution, mostly in Namaqualand, but also extending into Bushmanland. The second photo was taken near Kamieskroon. Photos by Christiaan van Schalkwyk.
Oxalis ambigua is described as having 3 hairy leaflets and white, yellow, or cream flowers with a yellow tube and blooming in winter. The species is found in rocky hills of Namaqualand and on the Gifberg in succulent Karoo biome. The photos below by Mary Sue Ittner are of two Michael Vassar collections. The first, Oxalis ambigua MV4967 was collected 19.2kms south of Calvinia. The collection data noted large copper salmon flowers held above the leaves. My plants rarely flower, but when they have, the flowers were white. The second, Oxalis ambigua MV5532 was collected by Michael Vassar 123 km. south of Pofadder. It has ivory flowers with a yellow center and nice bright green leaves and blooms for me in the fall and does not seem happy with excessive winter rain.
The first two photos below are from plants west of Kamieskroon, the third from South of Kamieskroon. Both are hirsute forms, but note the stem in the second photo. Not all plants or colonies are caulescent, and the acaulescent forms are more often seen. The leaflets of the western plants are much narrower than those South of Kamieskroon. Photos by Christiaan van Schalkwyk.
Oxalis annae is a very variable species, this particular clone is villose, white flowered, and floriferous. Oxalis annae can be found over a large geographical area, and several colour forms have been recorded. This one is from west of Garies. Photo by Christiaan van Schalkwyk.
Oxalis anomala is a fairly large, stemless plant. The peduncles are one or two flowered, and are much longer than the leaves. The flowers are rosy-violet in colour. Plants cultivated under this name is most commonly Oxalis virginea.
Oxalis argillacea is quite a hairy species, only the corolla is glabrous. The red marks in the flower is not distinctive, and apparently rare. This species can change dramatically in size from year to year, depending on weather conditions. It is found in the Vanrhynsdorp and Calvinia districts.
Photos by Christiaan van Schalkwyk.
Oxalis attaquana has long shiny hairs (not seen clearly on the picture). Fairly small white flowers are borne in masses. The literature states that it an erect plant, but I guess my overfeeding and watering causes it to topple over. The shape of the leaves is quite unique in shape (obreniform) and the leaves are slightly succulent. I have received a plant labelled as MV4621B Oxalis imbricata var violacea which I believe is a misidentification. It is identical to this plant, except for its pinkish flowers.
Photos by Christiaan van Schalkwyk, the bulbs on a 1cm square grid.
Oxalis bowiei is a fall blooming Oxalis from the Eastern Cape of South Africa with large pink flowers, photos by Bob Rutemoeller, Mary Sue Ittner, and Bill Dijk.
South African oxalis C – South African oxalis D-E – South African oxalis F-G – South African oxalis H-K – South African oxalis L-M – South African oxalis N-O – South African oxalis P – South African oxalis R-S – South African oxalis T-Z – South American oxalis – Miscellaneous oxalis – Oxalis index