Oxalis canaliculata var. graniticola Dreyer, Roets & Oberlander, 2017

Dreyer, Léanne L., Roets, Francois & Oberlander, Kenneth C., 2017, Two new Oxalis (Oxalidaceae) species, including 5 varieties, from the Richtersveld of South Africa, Phytotaxa 314 (2), pp. 231-240 : 236-237

Oxalis canaliculata var. graniticola Dreyer, Roets & Oberlander , var. nov.

Individuals of this variety are similar to the typical variety except in their prostrate habit, non-conduplicate to only slightly-folded leaflets, and leaflets that are comparatively much shorter and wider than in the typical variety, 9–25 × up to 4 mm. Flowers are white, and the bulbs are narrower and more irregular in shape than the typical variety (up to 35 × 11 mm), no doubt due to its restrictive rock crevice habitat.

Type:— SOUTH AFRICA. Northern Cape Province, Richtersveld National Park, Kokerboomkloof Camp Site , 610 m, 5 July 2011, Roets, Oberlander & Dreyer 2011 /07-18 (holotype NBG!; isotypes STEU!, BOL!)

Etymology:— The name of this variety refers to its habitat preference, growing in shallow soils in the cracks of granite boulders.

Additional material studied (paratypes):— SOUTH AFRICA. Northern Cape Province, Vioolsdrif, Knersberg, 2817CB. Van Jaarsveld, Clark, Campher & Leitch 9730 (NBG!)

Remarks:— When grown in cultivation most leaves of this variety remain prostrate, but later in the growing season a few leaves with erect petioles are formed. Leaflets on these erect leaves, however, remain similar to those on prostrate leaves.