Oxalis deppei Lodd., Bot. Cab. 15: t. 1500. 1828; Matthew in Rec. Bot. Surv. India 20: 56. 1969. O. tetraphylla auct. non Cav. 1794: Fyson, Fl. South Indian Hill. Stat. 2: t. 50. 1932.

Herbs, acaulescent, bulbous at base; bulbs large, ca 2 cm long; scales many, lanceolate, acuminate, brownish white. Leaves 4-foliolate; petioles 6 - 7, long; leaflets subsessile, deltoid to triangular, ca 2.5 x 3.6 cm long, membranaceous, somewhat glaucous and punctate beneath, appressed-hairy on nerves beneath. Scape solitary, terete, longer than petioles, ca 2.5 cm long, puberulous. Umbels 6 - 10-flowered, bracteate; bracts many, involucrate, lanceolate, acute, ca 9 x 2 mm. Flowers ca 1.5 cm long. Sepals 5, ovate, acute, ca 5 x 2 mm. Petals 5, spathulate-oblong, rounded, retuse, often oblique, ca 12 x 3 mm, glabrous, dark red when dry. Stamens 10, alternately long and short; long filaments densely hairy, ca 2 mm long, short filaments ca 1 mm long; anthers oblong. Ovary narrow, obscurely 5-angled, ca 2 mm long, glabrous; styles 5, erect, thrice as long as ovary; stigmas 5, peltate; ovules 3 - 5 per locule.

Fl. & Fr. May - Nov.

Distrib. India: Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Native of Mexico; introduced and naturalized in many other areas.

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