Native Plants
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Trianthema portulacastrum
Trianthema portulacastrum L.
Desert Horse-purslane, Horse-purslane, Black-pigweed, Giant-pigweed
Aizoaceae (Fig-Marigold Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: TRPO2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), HI (I), PR (N), VI (N)
From the Image Gallery
Plant Characteristics
Duration: AnnualHabit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Obovate
Leaf Texture: Spongy
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Rarely more than a few inches in height, but decumbent branches may extend more than 3 feet from the base.
Flower: Pink, rotate, five petals.
Fruit: Circumscissile capsule.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Pink , PurpleBloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: Flowers pink to pinkish-purple.
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , FL , GA , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NM , NV , OK , SC , TN , TX , UT , VANative Distribution: Southern half of the United States, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, most of South America, most of Asia and most of Africa.
Native Habitat: In sandy soils of thickets, on dunes and in waste grounds along streams. (Bibref 293).
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Moist or seasonally-moist soils in waste areas, marshes, streamsides, roadsides, croplands and other disturbed areas.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACW | FAC | FAC | UPL | FACW | FAC | FACW | FAC |
Bibliography
Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. JohnstonSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Additional resources
USDA: Find Trianthema portulacastrum in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Trianthema portulacastrum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Trianthema portulacastrum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2019-06-20Research By: Joseph A. Marcus