Plants → Magnoliophyta → Magnoliopsida → Oxalidales → Oxalidaceae R. Br. → Oxalis L. → Oxalis pes-caprae L.
Bulbaceous and rhizomatous, perennial, herb, 0.1-0.3 m high. Fl. yellow, Jun to Oct. A common weed.
Beard’s Provinces: Eremaean Province, South-West Province.
IBRA Regions: Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain, Warren, Yalgoo.
IBRA Subregions: Avon Wheatbelt P1, Avon Wheatbelt P2, Eastern Goldfield, Fitzgerald, Geraldton Hills, Northern Jarrah Forest, Perth, Southern Jarrah Forest, Tallering, Warren, Western Mallee.
IMCRA Regions: Central West Coast, Leeuwin-Naturaliste, WA South Coast.
Local Government Areas (LGAs): Albany, Armadale, Augusta Margaret River, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Bruce Rock, Busselton, Cambridge, Capel, Cockburn, Cottesloe, Cunderdin, Dalwallinu, Dundas, Gnowangerup, Gosnells, Greater Geraldton, Harvey, Irwin, Kalamunda, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Kondinin, Koorda, Mandurah, Manjimup, Melville, Moora, Mount Marshall, Murray, Narrogin, Nedlands, Northampton, Perth, Pingelly, Plantagenet, Quairading, Ravensthorpe, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Shark Bay, South Perth, Stirling, Swan, Wanneroo, Waroona, Yalgoo.
Alternative Names. Sour Grass.
General Biology. Growth form. Geophyte. Life form. Annually renewed bulb. Reproduction. Bulbils. Dispersal. Soil, birds. Fire response. Generally survives fire.
Notes. In South Africa Oxalis pes-caprae is represented by diploid and tetraploid races. The short styled, sterile pentaploid race reported as invasive elsewhere is apparently uncommon in South Africa. Throughout most of its invasive range O. pes-caprae reproduces asexually by bulbils, rarely setting seed. Prefers disturbed sites. Some evidence it influences soil phosporous cycling. Soil disturbance can greatly enhance invasion.
Additional information. Origin. South Africa.
Suggested method of management and control. Spot spray metsulfuron methyl 0.2 g/15 L + Pulse®, or 1% glyphosate. Apply at bulb exhaustion, generally just on flowering. Exercise care if manually removing as physical removal can result in spread of bulbils. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.
Calendar Type | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dormant | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||
Active Growth | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||
Flowering | Y | Y | Y | Y | |||||||||
Optimum Treatment | Y | Y |
Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.
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Western Australian Herbarium (1998–). FloraBase—the Western Australian Flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/