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Plant Biodiversity Conservatory and Research Core

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Accession Data:

Oxalis triangularis A. St.-Hil.

  • Common Name:
  • Family: Oxalidaceae R.Br.

  • Country of Origin: Brazil

  • Description: Plants exhibit nyctinastic movements (day/night movements) in which the leaflets fold up at night and are open during the day. These movements have been variously attributed to A) reduce surface area exposed to cool night air and reduce heat loss, B) reduction of amount of moonlight absorbed thus preventing false photoperiodic responses or C) to allow light during the morning and late afternoon (red/far red shift) to reach otherwise shaded leaf axils where the red/far red shift induces flower initiation.

    Regardless of the explanation, these movements are a fascinating aspect of these plants.

  • Culture: The plants are kept in many botanical gardens and easy to rear. The vegetative propagation from rhizom bulbs is the easiest. Put a bulb in a broad flower pot containing peath rich soil and keep well watered. The light intensity should not be too high. In case of diseases it helps to cut off all leaves. The plants start soon to develop new leaves.
  • USDA Zone: 6b-11

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 198502638
  • Source: Unknown
  • Accession Date: 12-31-1985
  • Bench: 1319 - NEOA: South Bench W
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 3 confirmed on 04-14-2025

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Magnoliopsida
  • SubClass: eurosid I
  • Order: Oxalidales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Oxalidaceae
  • SubFamily:
  • Tribe:
  • SubTribe:

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005

References (internal):

  • Nyctinasty
  • EEB 3271 - Systematic Botany
  • EEB 3203 - Developmental Plant Morphology

References (external):

  1. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 2 June 2015.

data regenerated on Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:45:06 -0400 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

No default accession image assigned

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Oxalidaceae

  • Averrhoa carambola
  • Biophytum sensitivum
  • Biophytum zenkeri
  • Oxalis aff. megalorrhiza W/C
  • Oxalis fruticosa
  • Oxalis gigantea
  • Oxalis hedysaroides 'Rubra'
  • Oxalis lasiandra
  • Oxalis palmifrons
  • Oxalis teneriensis
  • Oxalis teneriensis
  • Oxalis triangularis
  • Oxalis triangularis
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
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