Trianthema portulacastrum L., Aizoaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: jia hai ma chi

English: black pig weed, desert horse-purslane, giant pig weed, horse purslane

Spanish: verdolaga, verdolaga blanca, verdolaga de cochi, verdolaga de hoja ancha

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Stems prostrate or ascending, somewhat succulent, up to 5 dm long, sometimes more, glabrous or sparsely pubescent.  Leaves flat, elliptic to obovate or spatulate, 1-2 (-4) cm long, 0.4-2 (-3) cm wide, margins entire, apex obtuse or retuse, base rounded to cuneate, petioles 0.5-2.5 cm long, expanded into a sheath connate with opposing leaf base to form a cup.  Flowers solitary, sessile, largely hidden in leaf axils; sepals adnate to leaf base, the lobes linear to narrowly deltate, 4-5  mm long, inner surface pink or white, sparsely pubescent externally; ovary cylindrical; style ca. 2 mm long.  Operculum truncate, 2-3 mm long, with a prominent raised, denticulate rim along outer side.  Seeds dull black, reniform, 1.5-2 mm wide, weakly ridged." (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 179, 1856).

Habitat/ecology:  "Found in tropical and subtropical countries.  It occurs in wastelands, roadsides, lawns, gardens, upland cultivated crops, and in paddy fields if the water supply is low.  Occasionally it is found in perennial crops and pastures, especially in subhumid and semiarid regions"  (Holm et al., 1997; p. 856).

In Papua New Guinea, "found as a foreshore plant and in dry streambeds; a weed of cultivation and pasture; reported to be poisonous. Widespread at low altitudes, mostly in regions of low seasonal rainfall" (Henty & Pritchard, 1975; p. 50).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Pantropical (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 179).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Española Group	Española Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Española Group	Gardner por Española Islet, Española Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Española Group	Oeste Islet, Española Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Española Group	Osborn Islet, Española Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Genovesa Group	Genovesa Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Pinzón Group	Pinzón Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Baltra Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Daphne Mayor Island, Santa Cruz Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Punta Bowditch Este Islet, Santa Cruz Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Punta Bowditch Norte Islet, Santa Cruz Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Punta Bowditch Sur Islet, Santa Cruz Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Seymour Norte Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Venecia Islet, Santa Cruz Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Fé Group	Noreste de Santa Fé Islet, Santa Fé Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Fé Group	Santa Fé Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santiago Group	Mao Islet, Santiago Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (2006) (p. 2) Voucher cited: Lorence 9168 (BISH, BR, MO, NY, PTBG, US)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Herbst, Derral R./Wagner, Warren L. (1996) (p. 9) West Maui. Voucher cited: Hobdy 3543 (BISH, US)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 179) Voucher cited: Shegeta s.n. (BISH)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	invasive	Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 50) Widespread at low altitudes, mostly in regions of low seasonal rainfall.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 69, 79)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	invasive	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 136) A weed of cultivation throughout the Philippines at low and medium altitudes, locally abundant in recently distributed soil.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 854)
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 854)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 854)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Chile (continental) Chile	Chile (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Ecuador (Mainland) Ecuador	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
El Salvador El Salvador	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Guatemala Guatemala	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 366)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Perú Perú	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 69, 79)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Comoros Comoro Islands	Comoro Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)

Additional information:
Additional online information about Trianthema portulacastrum is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Trianthema portulacastrum as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Trianthema portulacastrum may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Charles Darwin Foundation. 2008. Database inventory of introduced plant species in the rural and urban zones of Galapagos. Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador.

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. 1975. Weeds of New Guinea and their control. 2nd edition. Department of Forests, Division of Botany, Botany Bull. No. 7. Lae, Papua New Guinea. 180 pp.

Herbst, Derral R./Wagner, Warren L. 1996. Contributions to the Flora of Hawai‘i. V. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Miller, Scott, E., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1995. Part 2: Notes. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 46:8-12.

Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James. 1997. World weeds: natural histories and distribution. John Wiley & Sons. 1129 pp.

Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 391 pp.

Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim. 2006. New naturalized plant records for Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucias G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2004-2005. Part 2: Notes. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 88:1-5.

Merrill, Elmer D. 1923. An enumeration of Philippine flowering plants, vol. 2 [reprint]. Bureau of Printing, Manila. 530 pp.

Smith, Nicholas M. 2002. Weeds of the wet/dry tropics of Australia - a field guide. Environment Centre NT, Inc. 112 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Waterhouse, D. F. 1993. The major arthropod pests and weeds of agriculture in Southeast Asia. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra. 141 pp.

Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong. 2011. Flora of China (online resource).