Scientific Family
Portulacaceae
Synonyms
Phemeranthus parviflorus, Talinum appalachianum, T. confertiflorum, T. fallax, T. gooddingii
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 8 inches
Riparian
No
Flowers are short-lived, open only a few hours in afternoon. Plant usually identified by leaves not by flowers.
Plants fleshy woody, may be shrubby, stems erect, simple or branching, roots elongated; leaves basal, not stalked, round in cross-section, may be slightly broadened at base; flowers usually stalked, white, pink or purplish, 5 stamens common; seeds smooth.
Habitat
Found in woodlands, and chaparral, on outcrops or in rocky soil.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
4000
High elevation
8000
Flower Characteristics
In short elongated clusters that open from the center outward; above leaves on slender leafless stalk up to 6 inches tall; 2 oval sepals per flower, about 1/8 inch long; 5 obovate (narrower end at base) to egg-shaped petals; 1/4 to 1/2 inch long.
Flower color
White, pink or purplish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stalkless; mostly clustered near the base of the stem; blades fleshy and terete (round in cross section); up to 2 inches long and 3/4 inch wide, sometimes slightly broadened at base.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Ellipsoid (widest in middle and tapered at each end) or oval; 1/8 to 1/4 inch long; 3-chambered; splitting open longitudinally to release seeds.
Fruit type
Capsule
Many tiny seeds; about 1/16 inch long.