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Re: Oxalis cycles

At 12:20 PM 3/24/98 -0800, Andrew Wilson wrote:
>I checked with Katherine Pyle who was the person who brought up rust on
>oxalis she had. It looks like she has rust which, until I checked on the
>type of Oxalis, seemed a bit unusual. At least I had not heard it attacking
>winter-growing Oxalis. Hers were types that start into growth in winter or
>early Spring but they would still be growing during the warm months when, I
>think, rust is more likely to occur.    <snip>

Yes, there are various species of Oxalis grown in this area - many of
them are 'garden types' of uncertain specificity.  I do note that the
thinner leaved forms tend to be those which grow more of less year-round
when water is available, going dormant whenever they dry out enough.  I
have a clump of one of these which is looking very sorry at the moment -
now that we have some summer and even warm weather after so many days of
cool and wet.  Since it is in full afternoon sun, it tend to dry out
rather quickly and I expect that this is the problem.  Last year I cut
the leaves off (they looked so bad!) at this time and then found it
regrew them later in the spring when I started my irrigation of this area.
This second set, being more toughened to the heat and stronger sun of
spring & summer, lasted a bit better, but still finally dried up in late
summer after our long hot drought.  This plant has pale green leaves and
soft pink, small flowers, and I have no idea what species it is.

I don't seem to get rust, but I note others who do during the same
'decline' period I just described.

Oxalis braziliensis has thicker leaves with more substance and does
not tend to get rust or wither ro easily.  The very succulent O. pres-
caprae doesn't even wither after being pulled and laid in the trash!!
Scary plant!!

 Sean A. O'Hara                     sean.ohara@ucop.edu
 710 Jean Street                    (510) 987-0577
 Oakland, California 94610-1459     h o r t u l u s   a p t u s
 U.S.A.                             'a garden suited to its purpose'
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