Oxalis rubens Haw.

Perennial with primary root stout, occasionally to 5 mm wide. Stems decumbent to ± erect, to c. 50 cm tall, slender, weak, branched, not or slightly rooting at the nodes, glabrate to densely covered in ± antrorse, and often crisped hairs. Lvs 3-foliolate. Petiole usually 1–10 cm long, glabrate or covered with long patent to antrorse hairs; stipules generally < 1.5 mm long, completely adnate, sometimes reduced and merely simulating a dilated petiole base, usually ciliate. Petiolules very short. Lamina of leaflets equal, 3–13 × 4–18 mm, obcordate or broadly obcordate, with divergent lobes, and sinus generally > 1/2 lamina length, glabrous above, with hairs below mainly confined to midrib, ± ciliate; calli 0. Fls 1–3–(4); peduncle 1.5–7 cm and pedicels 0.3–2 cm long, longer at fruiting, both with ± antrorse, slightly curling hairs. Bracts 1–2.5 mm long, linear-subulate, densely hairy, situated at base of pedicels; calli 0. Sepals 3–5 mm long, oblong-lanceolate, oblong-elliptic to oblong-ovate, with antrorse, appressed hairs; calli 0. Petals 6–14 mm long, oblong-obovate to almost obdeltate, yellow, glabrous. Stamens at 2 levels, glabrous; filaments united towards base. Styles < to > longer stamens, densely hairy. Capsule 10–23 mm long excluding styles, cylindric, densely hairy; hairs short, retrorse or sometimes almost patent, sometimes glandular. Seeds 1.2–1.7 mm long, oblong-ellipsoid; transverse ridges 8–10, obtuse; grooves deep.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Sep.–Feb.