''Oxalis latifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the woodsorrel family known by the common names garden pink-sorrel and broadleaf woodsorrel. It is native to Mexico and parts of Central and South America.

Description

This is a perennial herb growing from a system of small

bulb In botany, a bulb is structurally a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf basesBell, A.D. 1997. ''Plant form: an illustrated guide to flowering plant morphology''. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. that function as food storage organs duri ...

s and spreading via

stolon In biology, stolons (from Latin '' stolō'', genitive ''stolōnis'' – "branch"), also known as runners, are horizontal connections between organisms. They may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton; typically, animal stolons are external s ...

s. There is no stem. The leaves arise on long petioles from ground level, each made up of three widely heart-shaped leaflets about 4.5 centimeters wide. The inflorescence is an array of several flowers, each with five pink petals (some varieties have white flowers).

Invasive species

It is known on most other continents as an introduced species and a

noxious weed A noxious weed, harmful weed or injurious weed is a weed that has been designated by an agricultural or other governing authority as a plant that is injurious to agricultural or horticultural crops, natural habitats or ecosystems, or humans or liv ...

and

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

, as it infests many types of agricultural crops. In south-eastern Australia, it is found in gardens, on roadsides, disturbed sites and is most likely a garden escape. It is spread by conveyance of soils containing the plant’s bulbils, as well as by runoffs, ants, and by larger animals like dogs and birds.Fishtail Woodsorrel (Oxalis latifolia)
by Weeds of Melbourne

Gallery

File:WoodSorrel1.jpg, Pink flowers File:WoodSorrel4.jpg File:Oxalis latifolia-1-roadside-yercaud-salem-India.JPG, Roadside in India File:Oxalis latifolia flower (6530127569).jpg, Flower detail in Como, New South Wales File:Oxalis latifolia LeavesFlowers BotGardBln0906.jpg, White flower variety

References

External links

Jepson Manual Treatment
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''Oxalis latifolia'' - Photo gallery
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7115068 latifolia Flora of Mexico Flora of Central America Flora of South America