Oxalis triangularis, commonly called "Love Plant" or "Purple Shamrock", is an edible, perennial, acaulescent plant, arising from scale-clad rhizomes, growing to 20 cm tall. It is particularly priced for its purple, triangular leaflets that close at night. O. triangularis can be divided by morphological characters into 2 subspecies closely sympatric over much of their native ranges: subsp. triangularis and subs. papilionacea. However the differences are minimal and it seems probable that only a single evolutionary entity exists. Forms of O. triangularisare sometimes recognized as “atropurpurea” but this apparently is a horticultural name.
Oxalis Triangularis
SKU: 54654888
RM45.00 Regular Price
RM40.50Sale Price
- Rhizome: Short, branching, up to 5 cm long and 15mm wide, covered with thickened, overlapping scales, and juicy, sometimes with a cluster of bulblets at the rhizome base, rarely without leaves; rhizome and bulb scales (1–)3-nerved, glandular along the margins.
- Leaves: All basal leaflets 3, obtriangular to obovate-triangular, (20–)30–50(–60) mm, lobed ca 1/10 length or apex merely notched, lobes apically truncate to slightly convex, dark purple on both surfaces, commonly with lighter violet splotches adaxially, radiating from the midvein, oxalate deposits absent or as short, filiform, marginal lines on both sides of the notch, petioles 12–20 cm. The leaves of O. triangularis move in response to light levels, opening in high ambient light (in the day) and closing at low light levels (at night). This movement is not due to growth and is instead powered by changes in turgor pressure in cells at the base of the leaf. It is an example of photonasty.
- Inflorescence (umbelliform cymes): (1–)2–5(–9) flowerd, heterostylous. Scapes 15–35 cm.
- Flowers. Hermaphrodite (having both male and female organs) pollinated by Insects. Sepal apices with a pair of orange tubercles. Petals 15–22 mm, white to pinkish or pale purple.
- Blooming season: It is in flower from April to May occasionally to September.
- Fruits (capsules): Ovoid-ellipsoid, 12–18 mm.