Volume 2 > Part 1 > Year 1970 > Page 19 > Oxalidaceae > Biophytum

2. Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC.wfo-0000565531

Prod. 1: 690. 1824; Edgew. & Hook.f., Fl. Br. Ind. 1: 43. 1874; King, J. Asiat. Soc. Beng. 62. ii: 199. 1893; Guillaumin, Bull. Mus. natn. Hist. nat., Paris 15: 126. 1909; in Fl. Gèn. I.-C. 1: 608. 1911; Ridl., Fl. Mal Pen. 1: 331. 1922; Craib, Fl. Siam. En. 1: 206. 1926; Knuth in Pflanzenr. 95: 393. 1930; Tardieu-Bot in Fl. Gèn. I.-C. Suppl.: 548. t. 65. f. 9. 1945; Steen., Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenz. III. 18 452. 1950; Back. & Bakh. f., Fl. Java 1: 247. 1963.— Oxalis sensitiva L., Sp. Pl.: 434. 1753.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Erect, unbranched annual, up to 35 cm; stem pithy, compressible. Leaves 7–12(–14)-jugate, rachis 5–10(–16.5) cm; terminal leaflets largest, falcate-obovate, 8–18 by 3–10 mm, ± asymmetric; other leaflets ± symmetric, elliptic with parallel margins, base truncate, midrib median at base, ± glabrous; nerves many, little conspicuous, oblique. Inflorescences strigose mixed with septate-glandular hairs. Peduncles up to 14 cm. Pedicels 1.5–3.5 mm. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, 4–7 by 0.5–1.5 mm, acute, ± shorter than the corolla, in fruit 5–9-nerved, longer than the pedicels, 1.3–2 times as long as the fruit. Petals 5–7 by 1–2 mm, truncate, yellow, limb with purplish lines. Fruit 3–4 by 2 mm, apically puberulous and minutely septate-glandular hairy on the ribs. Seeds up to 3 per cell, 0.7–1 by 0.5–0.8 mm, transversally tubercled and ridged.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Chiang Mai (Doi Suthep), Chiang Rai (Mae Lao), Tak (Wang Chao), Lamphun; NORTH-EASTERN: Loei (Wang Saphung), Nakhon Phanom (Mukdahan), Khon Kaen (Chum Phae); SOUTH-EASTERN: Chon Buri (Ban Bung), Chanthaburi (Pong Nam Ron); CENTRAL: Saraburi (Phu Khae, Muak Lek, Khao Pang Sawang), Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok); SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi (Sai Yok, Brangkasi, Thun Pa).

Distribution : Widely spread in the Indo-Malesian tropics (type from Ceylon).

Ecology : Shaded, disturbed soil, river banks, under damp thickets, up to 500 m alt. Flowering and fruiting: January–December.

Vernacular : Krathup yop (กระทืบยอบ), thup yop (ทูบยอบ), chao yop (เช้ายอบ), khan rom (คันร่ม).