Volume 9 > Part 1 > Year 2005 > Page 1 > Aizoaceae > Trianthema

1. Trianthema portulacastrum L.wfo-0000020781

Sp. Pl. 1: 223. 1753; Craib in Fl. Siam. Enum. 1: 784. 1931; Backer in Steenis, Fl. Males. I, 4: 274. 1951; Larsen, Dansk Bot. Ark. 23(1): 63. 1963; Backer & Bakh.f, Fl. Java 1: 216. 1963; Tardieu in Fl. Camb., Laos & Viêt-nam 5: 85. 1967. Fig. 1.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Glabrous or puberulous succulent herb; stem slightly purplish; nodes thickened and flattened. Leaves unequally paired, orbicular to obovate, 0.5–3 by 0.5–2.5 cm; base cuneate or rounded; margin purple, slightly undulate; apex obtuse or emarginate; petiole 0.3–3.0 cm, at the base dilated into a sheath. Flower sessile solitary, axillary, pinkish, lower part sunken in the petiolar pouch. Perianth 5-lobed, apex obtuse with a subterminal hairy mucro. Stamens 10–25, unequal in length, 2–3 mm long, white; anthers pale pink. Ovary slightly turbinate, truncate, incompletely divided into 2 superposed locules, both locules ovulate; style 1, ca 3 mm long. Capsule with base concealed in the petiolar pouch; operculum protruding, thick walled, containing 1–2 seeds; lower part thin-walled, 2–9-seeded. Seeds reniform, ca 2 mm in diam., black, slightly ribbed.

Thailand : NORTHERN: Tak, Phitsanulok; NORTH-EASTERN: Khon Kaen; CENTRAL: Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan; SOUTH-WESTERN: Kanchanaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Distribution : Pantropical. S America (type).

Ecology : Common in waste places, near rivers, along sea shores and on limestone, up to 400 m alt.

Vernacular : Phak bia hin (ผักเบี้ยหิน), phak khom hin (ผักโขมหิน)(Central).