Trianthema portulacastrum

Trianthema portulacastrum is a species of flowering plant in the ice plant family known by the common names desert horsepurslane, black pigweed, and giant pigweed. It is native to areas of several continents, including Africa and North and South America, and present as an introduced species in many other areas. It grows in a wide variety of habitat types and it can easily take hold in disturbed areas and cultivated land as a weed. This species is a host plant for the beet leafhopper (Circulifer tenellus).

Description

A low lying smooth branched and fleshy herb. It grows each year from seed. The stems are angular. The branches are up to 60 cm long. The leaves are opposite each other and rounded at the tip but wedge shaped at the base. They are 1 to 5 cm long. The flowers are pink and the seed capsule contains about 10 small seeds.

Edible Uses

The young leaves and branches are cooked and eaten as a vegetable or potherb. Leaves are traditionally boiled in water and mixed with salt and chilli. Seeds are also edible.

Traditional Uses

The branches and young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are used as a potherb. The leaves are boiled in water then mixed with salt and chilli. CAUTION: It should probably not be eaten in large amounts. Older leaves have caused paralysis. CAUTION: It may be poisonous unless properly cooked.

Medicinal Uses

The plant is used in times of food shortage.

Known Hazards

The plant should not be eaten in large amounts. Older leaves have caused paralysis. It may be poisonous unless properly cooked.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical sea coasts. It commonly occurs as a weed in the Philippines where land has recently been cleared or dug. It grows in open sunny dry sands; usually near sea or as weeds in fields. It is a tropical plant. Seeds germinate between 20°C to 45°C. In Nepal it grows up to 300 m altitude. It grows in moist unused areas. It grows well in soils with humus. Rajasthan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Gambia, Ghana, Guiana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, SE Asia, Senegal, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies*,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seeds. They are sown 1 cm deep. It can also be grown by cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - sown in situ, it germinates at temperatures between 20 - 45°c, with an optimum at 35°c. More than 50% of fresh seeds germinate within 4 - 8 days of incubation. When stored under field conditions, germination increases during 7 - 8 months. Optimum sowing depth is 1cm.

Other Uses

The plant shows allelopathic effects on other weeds and crops including sorghum, pumpkin, eggplant, radish, several pulses and wheat, by inhibiting seed germination and vigour of seedlings. Interestingly, it is also auto-toxic, since plant extracts reduce its own seed germination, shoot length and vigour. The plant has a potential value as a source of organic matter because it contains considerable amounts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

Other Information

It is used in times of food shortage. It is cultivated in some places.

Notes

It is also put in the family Molluginaceae. It can become a troublesome weed.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Adachitkana, Ambalimadu, Ambati-madu, Barsin, Bawra, Bishkapra, Charanai, Chungkueng prehs, Comida de vaca, Co tamkhoi, Desert horse purslane, Eitai, Gadabani, Gadapurina, Galijeru, Ghelijebghroo, Ghetuli, Hato, Hin sarana, Itsit, Jai hai ma chi, Khapra sag, Koppi geloodi, Kulfasag, Lal-sabuni, Lalsabuni, Lana, Muchchugoni, Ngubay gueleme, Omi guileme, Pa-yan-na-wa, Pasalaesoppu, Pasalikeera, Pathorchatta, Pollito yuyo, Pundharighentuli, Rogon yara, Safed, Santhi, Santo, Sata, Seto punarnava, Shaaranaj, Shanti, Sharunnai, Sharunnay, Shavalai, Svet-sa-buni, Topotiro, Toston, Totson, Ulisman, Upothaki, Vaca micuna, Vasu, Vattachanathi keerai, Verdolaga blanca, Verdolaga de caballo, Verdolaga rastrera

References (68)

• Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 932
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 647
• Arinathan, V., et al, 2007, Wild edibles used by Palliyars of the western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 6(1) pp 163-168
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 46
• Boedecker, J., et al, 2014, Dietary contribution of Wild Edible Plants to women’s diets in the buffer zone around the Lama forest, Benin – an underutilized potential. Food Sec. 6:833–849

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