Oxalidaceae
Rosidae: Geraniales. The Oxalidaceae are herbs, shrubs, or rarely trees
comprising 7 or 8 genera and about 800 species. The leaves are alternate and pinnately or
palmately compound or rarely simple by suppression of leaflets; stipules are absent. The
flowers are bisexual and actinomorphic. The perianth consists of a calyx of 5 distinct
sepals and a corolla of 5 distinct or sometimes basally connate petals. The stamens are
basally connate and obdiplostemonous, that is, of two series with the outer series
opposite the petals; occasionally 5 stamens are reduced to staminodes. The gynoecium
consists of a single compound pistil of 5 carpels, 5 distinct styles, and a superior ovary
with 5 locules, each containing one or more axile ovules. The fruit is a loculicidal,
sometimes explosively dehiscent capsule or berry.
Each "thumbnail" image below is linked to a larger photograph.
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Oxalis corniculata, yellow wood sorrel. Note palmately compound
leaves, 5-merous perianth, obdiplostemonous androecium, and 5 distinct styles. |
|
Oxalis martiana, pink wood sorrel. A five-merous perianth and
obdiplostemonous androecium are apparent. |
 |
Averrhoa bilimbi, bilimbi. Note obdiplostemony and 5-merous
perianth. |
|
Averrhoa carambola, star fruit, five fingers. Tree from Malaysia
with waxy, juicy, five-angled, fruits that are eaten raw or preserved. A five lobed ovary
with five persistent styles are visible in the lower center of the lower photo. |
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