Largeflower Wood Sorrel
Common name
Largeflower Wood Sorrel
Scientific Name
Oxalis purpurea
Type of plant
Bulbs or Corms
About this weed
This Oxalis species is easily distinguished as it grows to only about 0.2 m high and has bright pink to purple to white flowers, all have yellow throats, flowering from autumn to spring. It is not known to set seed in Australia and like the other Oxalis it is a native of South Africa.
Description
The weed is a very low growing weed and has distinctive circular leaves forming a rosette. The leaves are often purple underneath. There are three naturalised colour forms: rose-purple, mauve or white. The bulb is annually renewed and many bulbils are produced. It generally survives fire.
Impact on Bushland
If left will spread over bushland and impact on native plant communities.
Location
Widespread in heavier soils in the Perth Metropolitan Area and the South-West Region. It can be found in lawns, crops, pastures and on roadsides.
Priority for removal
High: major threat to the conservation values of bushland if it becomes established.
Management (hand)
Exercise care if manually removing as physical removal can result in spread of bulbils.
Management (herbicide)
Spot spray metsulfuron methyl 0.2 g/15 L + Pulse®, or 1% Glyphosate. Apply at bulb exhaustion, generally just on flowering. Read the manufacturers’ labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. May and June are best months to spray weed.
Flowering month/s
May, June, July, August, September
Flower colour/s
Pink, Purple, White, Mauve
Information source
https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/4358
Additional information
https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/weeds/swanweeds/
Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G. and Cousens, R.D. (2007) Western weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia, Second Edition, The Weeds Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park, Western Australia.
