The caudex and the fruit.
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This member of the Oxalidaceae family was described by Nicolaas Joseph
von Jacquin in 1794. It's found in Bolivia, Peru,
Ecuador Chile and the Galapagos Islands. Growing in a well-drained soil
with lots of water and sun. The flowers are yellow and cleistogamous - they are self-fertilised even before they
open. When the fruit is ripe, a special mechanism is set off. The stem
and small caudex will get 3 centimetres in diameter, the stems grow to
10 centimetres. I found mine in Juelsminde 2003.
WARNING: This plant will spread fast, thanks to it's exploding
seed-capsules.
THIS IS NOT OXALIS CARNOSA!
This species has been constantly misidentified as Oxalis
carnosa, Molina 1810 since the publication of coloured plates by
Lindley in 1827, and Hooker in 1828. However, Dandy & Young,
1959 resolved the problem, and later Porter in 1974 concisely
explained the situation. Despite this, resent work on succulents,
notably Jacobsen in 1960, Ríha & Subik in 1981 and Rowley in
1987 have continued with the use of the illegitimate and misapplied
name.
This is a winter/spring-grower, but can grow all year.
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