276 WILD FOOD PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



Family AIZOACEAE 



Genus SESUVIUM 

 SESUVIUM PORTULACASTRUM L. DamPALIT. 



The stems and leaves when boiled are eaten as a vegetable. 



Sesuvium portulacastrum is a fleshy, prostrate, spreading, 

 branched herb. The stems root at the nodes, are often reddish, 

 20 to 50 centimeters in length, and have short, ascending bran- 

 ches. The leaves are narrow, very thick, fleshy, and 2 to 4 

 centimeters long. The flowers are small, and pink or red. The 

 capsules are about 5 millimeters in length. 



This species grows along the seashore throughout the Phil- 

 ippines. 



Family PORTULACACEAE 



Genus PORTULACA 

 PORTULACA OLERACEA L. GuLASfMAN. 



Local names: Gulashnan, sahikan (Tagalog, Mindoro) ; olasvman 

 (Leyte) ; ausiman, gulashnan, ulasiman (Camarines). 



This plant is eaten as a vegetable. It is also used in many 

 regions as food for hogs. 



Portulaca oleracea is an annual, prostrate or spreading, 

 smooth, branched herb, 10 to 50 centimeters in length. The 

 stems are often purplish. The leaves are fleshy, flat, wedge- 

 shaped at the base, and 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters long. The flowers 

 are yellow and occur in few-flowered heads. 



This species is very common in waste places throughout the 

 Philippines. 



Genus TRIANTHEMA 

 TRIANTHEMA PORTULACASTRUM L. 



Local name: Ulismnan (Negros Occidental). 



This plant is eaten as a vegetable. 



Triayithema portulacastrum is a prostrate, smooth or slightly 

 hairy, succulent, branched herb. The branches are up to 60 

 centimeters or more in length. The leaves are opposite, rounded 

 at the tip, wedge-shaped at the base, and 1 to 5 centimeters long. 

 The flowers are pink and 4 to 5 millimeters in length. The 

 capsule is 5 to 6 millimeters long and contains about 10 small 

 seeds. 



This species is a common weed in and about towns, especially 

 in recently disturbed soil. 



