| Family: | Oxalidaceae |
|---|---|
| Common name: | wood-sorrel family [Zomlefer, pp. 136-139] |
| Diversity: | Worldwide: 3-8 genera; ~900 species U.S.: 1 genus PNW (Hitchcock & Cronquist): 1 genus |
| Flower -- Vegetative Features -- Economic Importance -- Flower Images-- Web Sites | |
| Flower | |
|---|---|
| K5 Co5 S10 P (5) | |
| Sexuality: | bisexual |
| Symmetry: | actinomorphic |
| Inflorescence: | cyme (may appear as an umbel) |
| Calyx (sepals): | 5 separate |
| Corolla (petals): | 5 separate or fused at base |
| Androecium: | 10, monadelphous, biseriate with outer whorl shorter and opposite the petals, sometimes with filament length dimorphism or trimorphism (heterostyly) |
| Gynoecium: | 5 free or partially united carpels, superior ovary (=hypogynous), 5 free styles, axile placentation, style length di/trimorphism (heterostyly) |
| Fruit: | capsule |
| Other features: | both heterostylous and cleistogamous species are known |
| Vegetative Features | |
|---|---|
| Leaves: | alternate, palmately (trifoliate) to pinnately compound, exstipulate, often with acrid taste (oxalic acid) |
| Life-history: | perennial or annual |
| Habit: | mostly herbs |
| Distribution & Ecology: | mostly tropical, subtropical |
| Some Northwest Genera: | Oxalis, wood-sorrel |
| Economic Importance | |
|---|---|
| Crops: | |
| Ornamentals: | Oxalis sp., Irish shamrock |
| Weedy and pest species: | Oxalis pes-caprae, Bermuda buttercup |
| Examples | Oxalidaceae Oxalis |
|---|---|
| Oxalidaceae Oxalis |
|
| click on the genus name for a flower image | |
Links to Other Web Sites
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