Family: Oxalidaceae Life
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Eurosid I > Order: Oxalidales
About seven genera and 900 species
worldwide (Africa, Madagascar, Asia and America), of which two
genera (Biophytum and Oxalis) and 205 species are
native to southern Africa. Two species are naturalised, and an additional genus and eight species are
cultivated in southern Africa.
Genera native to southern Africa
List from Dreyer and Makwarela (2000).
Biophytum
There are eight species (tropical and subtropical Africa and Madagascar), of
which two are native to southern Africa. |
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Oxalis
About 700 species (cosmopolitan, greatest diversity in South America and
South Africa), of which 203 species are native to southern Africa and
two species that are naturalised. An additional seven species are
cultivated in the region.
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Other genera, cultivated in southern Africa
Averrhoa
Two species, Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) and
Averrhoa carambola (Starfruit,
Carambola), of which the latter is cultivated in southern Africa. Both
are native to southeast Asia. Bilimbi has very sour fruit and is used
mainly as an ingredient in pickles, chutneys, jams and curries. Starfruit
has both sweet and sour cultivars. The sweet type is eaten raw and is also
used in jams, preserves, tarts and juices. |
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Publications
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Dreyer, L.L. and Makwarela, A.M. 2000.
Oxalidaceae. In: Seed Plants of
Southern Africa (ed. O.A. Leistner). Strelitzia 10: 432-433.
National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
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