A N F Keys
1 Leaves only basal; bulbs present and deep-seated with small bulblets forming dense clones; flowers produced substantially above leaf canopy, > 20 mm across, brilliant yellow with reddish veins; in range capsules never formed .. Oxalis pes-caprae [pics]
1' Cauline leaves present; bulbs absent, with trailing stems and often bearing stolons; flowers produced at level of leaf canopy, yellow without reddish veins but sometimes with 2 red spots per corolla lobe; capsules present
2 Rachis generally > 30−50(−90) mm long; trailing stems often rooting at nodes; flowers 8−13 mm across, borne in umbel-like clusters of 4−9; capsules strongly 5-lobed and typically (6−)10−25 mm long .. Oxalis corniculata [pics]
2' Rachis generally 15−39 mm long; trailing stems not rooting at nodes; flowers 13−18 mm across, borne singly or in clusters of 2−3; capsules appearing 10-lobed and typically < 10 mm long .. Oxalis californica [pics]
The text of the above keys used with permission from
A Naturalist's Flora of the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills, California
© Copyright
Barry A. Prigge and Arthur C. Gibson
2013