Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd., Sp. Pl. 2: 862. 1799; Geesink in Steenis, Fl. Males. 1, 7: 124. 1971.Portulaca triangularis Jacq., Enum. Pl. Carib. 22. 1760.P. racemosa L., Mant. Pl. 242. 1771.

Tam.: Pasalai, Ceylon keerai; Eng.: Fame flower, Ceylon spinach, Sweetheart, Surinam purslane.

Erect subshrubs, up to 1 m high. Leaves ca 15 x 5 cm, elliptic to obovate, acute to acuminate, pinnately nerved; axillary buds with 2 small subulate cataphylls. Inflorescences terminal, thyrsoid, up to 15 cm across, axes triangular, with ca 10 dichasia, each with 8 - 30 flowers; bracts and bracteoles subulate. Sepals 2, ca 4 x 3.5 mm, deltoid-suborbicular, acute or acuminate. Petals 5, 4 - 8 x 2 - 4 mm, obovate, emarginate. Stamens 20 - 40; filaments ca 5 mm long; anthers up to 5 mm long. Styles 1.5 - 2.5 mm long, 2 - 3-armed. Capsules yellow or pinkish, 3 - 5 mm in diam., (2 -) 3-valved. Seeds many, ca 1.2 mm in diam.; testa cells radially elongate, smooth, tubercled at edges.

Distrib. India: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, introduced from Sri Lanka.

Native of tropical America, now a pantropical weed.

Notes. Commonly used as vegetable. Easily propagated by cuttings. Cultivated in gardens as substitute for Amaranthus gangeticus in India.