Oxalis, a few October ones

[Palustris]

In the Alpine house


Oxalis perdicaria Mallobolba

 Oxalis perdicaria Ezeiza form

Oxalis hirta

Oxalis Anne Christie
Had to include the last one even though it is a bit out of normal flowering time.

[David Nicholson]

Very nice indeed Eric, something I fail miserably with for some reason.

[Ezeiza]

Impressive photos. The first (cream fl.) Oxalis is around by the name of O. mallobolba 'Citrino'. It is nothing but a single plant I found many years ago here in Ezeiza and of which offsets were sent to Maurice Boussard, Brian Mathew, Chris Lovell, and a number of others and from that original one this pretty form seems established in cultivation. It was never found again in the wild. This plant grows in the same area Rhodophiala bifida and Zephyranthes candida do and should be as hardy as those although of course it prefers it warmer.

The confusing part of it. This species was known as O. mallobolba, then its name was changed to O. perdicaria. A few years go it was decided that this perdicaria and the Chilean O. lobata were the same nd therefore the distinction between both plants in cultivation disappeared for the bad. For O. lobata from Chile grows under almost arid conditions with a definite Mediterranean cycle. O. perdicaria/mallobolba in its two forms including this magnificent "citrino" receives a minimum of 900 mm. yearly even during the summer months where it is dormant. In other words growers tend to give both species lobata and perdicaria the same succulent treatment and this is why you see photos of perdicaria in flower looking about to die from thirst!

Finally it would be more proper to give 'Citrino' the name of Oxalis perdicaria Ezeiza form, following the South African nomenclature which is so much easier and self explaining.

[Palustris]

Thank-you very much. I will amend my label to get the name right and the spelling too. Citrino I got a couple of years back from Keith Lever and the other one from Mike Brown (a fabled grower of Farrer medal plants).
They have flowered better this year than ever before. I started watering them on the 1st of August this time after a dry (ish) dormant summer. They also have been fed with half strength liquid food.
Fascinating  to read the history of a plant like this. I am very grateful to you for taking the trouble to respond.

[annew]

That is very interesting - is the golden yellow one that we grow as O. lobata, really lobata, or perdicaria?

[annew]

There also seems to be controversy about whether the variety name should be 'Citrino' or 'Cetrino' ( I was scolded for using the former version). I am therefore very happy to be able to call it 'Ezeiza form'!