Trianthema
Trianthema is a genus of flowering plants in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae. Members of the genus are annuals or perennials generally characterized by fleshy, opposite, unequal, smooth-margined leaves, a prostrate growth form, flowers with five perianth segments subtended by a pair of bracts, and a fruit with a winged lid. They are known commonly as horse purslanes.
Trianthema | |
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Trianthema pilosa | |
Trianthema sp. | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Aizoaceae |
Subfamily: | Sesuvioideae |
Genus: | Trianthema L.[1] |
Species | |
About 20, see text. | |
Synonyms | |
Ancistrostigma Fenzl |
The genus contains about 20 described species growing in tropical and subtropical regions, especially Australia. One common species, Trianthema portulacastrum, desert horse purslane, is frequent as a weed in agricultural areas and is widely distributed.
Selected species
- Trianthema portulacastrum L. – Desert horse purslane[2]
- Trianthema triquetra Willd.[3]
Formerly placed here
- Zaleya decandra (L.) Burm.f. (as T. decandra L.)
- Zaleya galericulata (Melville) H.Eichler (as T. galericulata Melville)
- Zaleya pentandra (L.) C.Jeffrey (as T. pentandra L.)[3]
References
- "Genus: Trianthema L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
- "Trianthema". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
- "GRIN Species Records of Trianthema". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-12-15.