an Oxalis by any other name?

At 10:34 PM 1/24/99 -0700, you wrote:
>Dear All:
>
>I don't have much to say on this group-though I love to listen in, but I
>simply must respond to Carol's point. First of all, if we gardeners can't
>call a spade a spade (sorry), then who can? Anyone who has battled yellow
>oxalis knows it only too well by that name. In fact, those who have battled
>it have spent restless nights tossing and turning as yellow trumpet shapes
>march relentlessly across one's bedroom ceiling. It's impossible to mistake
>for anything else. 

Fiona - 

Unfortunately, there are two common 'yellow oxalis' in California (and
elsewhere) that are thought of as noxious weeds and present battles such
as that you describe:

Oxalis pes-caprae, the Bermuda Buttercup (another misleading name as this
plant is originally from South Africa), which has bulbils that cause it
to be so difficult to remove.  It is large of leaf and flower, and children
call it 'Sour Grass' since they like to chew and suck the tart juice of the
stems.  No seed it produced by the pentiploid mutant in California.  It is
a winter grower, going completely dormant in heat of summer.

Oxalis corniculata, which has a variety of common names, this plant
is very much smaller, with tiny flowers and leaves, flat growth habit, and
producing tons of seedpods and seeds, which sprout continually through the
year, especially during warm weather.  There is a purple leaf form some
find desirable.  Has been sold as 'shamrocks' in the past.

As you can see, these are very different plants and hence need very
different culture to grow or methods to irradicate.

Sean O.
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