Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 433 (1753).

Synonymy: O. variabilis Jacq., Oxal. 89 (1794).

Common name: One o'clock, large-flowered wood-sorrel.

Description:
Bulbs ovoid, 1-3.5 cm long; tunics blackish- brown, rigid, gummy; rhizome to 15 cm; stem hardly exserted; leaves 5-30; petioles 1-7 cm, sparsely or densely villous, broadened at the base; leaflets 3, broadly obovate to rhomboid, 1-3 cm long, 1-3 cm broad, often emarginate, glabrous above, with hairs only on the nerves to pubescent below, with numerous little pellucid dots.

Flowers solitary; sepals lanceolate, 7-8 mm long, glabrous with some hairs at the top to pubescent, with longitudinal pellucid lines; petals pink to purple, sometimes white, yellow at the base, 15-40 mm long.

Fruits unknown here.

	Oxalis purpurea habit.
Image source: fig 385e in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: C. Lamp (1976) Weeds in Australia, p. 230; Morley & Toelken (1983) Flowering plants in Australia, p. 210.

Distribution:  Probably a garden escape. S.Aust.: EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE.   W.Aust.; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas.   Native to South Africa. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: April — Nov.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available