Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

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Oxalis debilis
Kunth, Oxalidaceae
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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Oxalis corymbosa DC.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: lilac oxalis, pink wood sorrel

French: oseille, trèfle

Hawaiian: ‘ihi pehu

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Acaulescent perennial herbs from an ovoid bulb 2-2.5 cm long, covered with brownish ovate scales, maturing into masses of brown ovoid bulbils 3-6 mm in diameter in the axils of the old scales.  Leaves trifoliolate, leaflets broadly obcordate, often drooping, 1.5-4.5 cm long, 2-6.5 cm wide, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, both surfaces covered with minute reddish tubercles, petioles slender, flexuous, ascending, 10-25 cm long, more or less villous, stipules small, membranous, adnate to petioles.  Flowers 2-12 in umbellate cymes, peduncles up to 35 cm long, usually villous, bracts several, ovate-lanceolate, 2.5-3 mm long; sepals oblong, 3.5-5 (-6) mm long; petals pinkish purple, spatulate, 11-20 mm long, apex obtuse to truncate; ovules 3-8 per cell, in 1-2 rows" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1002, 1004, 1887).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized and sometimes locally common, usually in relatively wet, shaded sites, 10-850 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1002, 1004).  In Fiji, "occasionally cultivated and frequently naturalized in gardens, waste places, and along trails near sea level" (Smith, 1985; p. 109).  In the Pacific, "an occasional garden ornamental, now escaped and becoming a weed of waste places and cultivated land, difficult to eradicate" (Smith, 1985; p. 627). In New Caledonia, "mauvaise herbe répandue mais pas très gênante" (MacKee, 1994; p. 109). Moist uplands in the Galápagos Islands (McMullen, 1999; p. 226).

Propagation:  Bulbils.

Native range:  Tropical South America (Smith, 1985; p. 627).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands)
Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island introduced
invasive
Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 20)
"A native of South America now widespread as a weed of disturbed ground throughout temperate and warm temperate regions". Vouchers cited: J. Pickard 2676 (NSW), J. Pickard 1214 (NSW), A.C. Beauglehole 5780 (MEL)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands)
Norfolk Islands
Norfolk Island introduced
invasive
Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 10)
"A native of South America now widespread as a weed of disturbed ground throughout temperate and warm temperate regions". Vouchers cited: P.S. Green 1364 (A); R.M. Laing (CHR); 1939, J.D. McComish (NSW)
Chile (offshore islands)
Juan Fernández Islands
Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island) introduced
invasive
Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands)
Juan Fernández Islands
Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island) introduced
invasive
cultivated
Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (pp. 491, 537, 556)
Voucher cited: Danton H(1574)1336. "Plantada en los jardines y para el florecimiento del pueblo de San Juan Bautista, se naturaliza fácilmente y se extiende por todas partes".
Cook Islands
Southern Cook Islands
Mangaia Island   McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Floreana Group
Floreana Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
var. corymbosa. As Oxalis corymbosa.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Isabela Group
Isabela Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
var. corymbosa. As Oxalis corymbosa.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Isabela Group
Volcán Cerro Azul, Isabela Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
var. corymbosa. As Oxalis corymbosa.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Isabela Group
Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
var. corymbosa. As Oxalis corymbosa.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
San Cristóbal Group
San Cristóbal Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
var. corymbosa. As Oxalis corymbosa.
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands)
Santa Cruz Group
Santa Cruz Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
var. corymbosa. As Oxalis corymbosa.
Fiji
Fiji Islands
Viti Levu Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 627)
Vouchers cited: Greenwood 803, DA 5605, DA 11742, DA 11229, DA 11540, DA 13275
French Polynesia
Society Islands
Tahiti Island introduced
invasive
Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013)
var. corymbosa (A.P. de Candolle) A. Lourteig. Voucher cited: J. Florence 4484 (PAP)
Naturalisée
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Hawai‘i (Big) Island introduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1002, 1004, 1887)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Kaua‘i Island introduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1002, 1004, 1887)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Lāna‘i Island introduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1002, 1004, 1887)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Maui Island introduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1002, 1004, 1887)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
Moloka‘i Island introduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1002, 1004, 1887)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
O‘ahu Island introduced
invasive
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1002, 1004, 1887)
Voucher cited: Mann & Brigham 37 (BISH)
Japan (offshore islands)
Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands
Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands introduced
invasive
Toyoda, Takeshi (2003) (p. 287)
As Oxalis corymbosa DC.
Naturalized
Japan (offshore islands)
Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands
Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands introduced
Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
Subsp. corymbosa (DC.) Lourteig
New Caledonia
Îles Bélep (Belep Islands)
Île Art introduced
invasive
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 109)
Voucher cited: MacKee 19456
New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Islands introduced
invasive
cultivated
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 627)
New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Islands introduced
invasive
Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 382)
Mauvaise herbe répandue.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île Grande Terre introduced
invasive
Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île Grande Terre introduced
invasive
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 109)
Vouchers cited: Buchholz 1316, Guillaumin 8463, MacKee 5565, MacKee 11994, MacKee 12878, MacKee 40971
Samoa
Western Samoa Islands
Western Samoa Islands introduced
invasive
cultivated
Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 627)
United States (other Pacific offshore islands)
Midway Atoll
Sand Island introduced
invasive
Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd (2008) (pp. B-11)
var. corymbosa. Voucher cited: Starr & Starr 080601-04
United States (other Pacific offshore islands)
Midway Atoll
Sand Island introduced
invasive
Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (2010) (pp. 65-66)
Voucher cited: Starr & Starr 080601-04 (BISH)
Vanuatu
New Hebrides Islands
Vanuatu (Republic of)   Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 95)
Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia (Republic of) introduced
invasive
Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 67, 78)
Japan
Japan
Japan introduced
Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 185)
As Oxalis corymbosa DC.
Malaysia
Malaysia
Malaysia (country of) introduced
invasive
Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 67, 78)
New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand (country) introduced
invasive
Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 918)
"Primarily a weed of cultivated soil, and waste, usually open, disturbed ground".
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore (Republic of) introduced
invasive
Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 67, 78)
Singapore
Singapore
Singapore (Republic of) introduced
invasive
Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 65)
var. corymbosa (DC.) Lourteig, naturalised
South America (Pacific rim)
South America (Pacific rim)
Colombia native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim)
South America (Pacific rim)
Ecuador (Republic of) (continental) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim)
South America (Pacific rim)
Perú (Republic of) native
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Thailand
Thailand
Thailand (Kingdom of) introduced
invasive
Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 67, 78)
Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
Mauritius
Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)
Mauritius Island   Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 259)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Oxalis debilis, please let us know.


Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER! (pier@hear.org)

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This page was created on 5 AUG 2002 and was last updated on 20 OCT 2006.