Oxalis helicoides var. helicoides

Oxalis helicoides, commonly known as the spiral sorrel, is a cormous perennial growing a stem and reaching heights around 30 cm. The twisted stem spirals, resembling a helix, flapping about in wind when growing without support. The specific name, helicoides, is derived from the Greek word helikoeides meaning spiral, winding or coiled and the suffix ‑oides meaning resembling or having the appearance of, referring to the stem shape.

The trifoliolate leaves have three narrow blue-green leaflets folding in along their midribs.

The more widespread variety, var. helicoides bears rose to magenta flowers with yellow tubes and recurving petals, the corollas about 2 cm in diameter. The other variety, var. alba, has white flowers with paler yellow tubes.

The species distribution is in the west of the Northern Cape from the high Steinkopf Plateau in the Richtersveld, southwards near Springbok, Garies and Kamieskroon as far as the northwest of the Western Cape, still in Namaqualand.

The habitat is arid scrubland and succulent Karoo, often with granite-derived soils. The habitat populations of both varieties are deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century.

The plants feature in horticulture and traditional medicine (Williamson, 2010; iNaturalist; https://www.botanikks.com; https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org; https://redlist.sanbi.org).