I’m hoping somebody here might have an idea of what plant this might be. In all my years (over 40) living in the Houston area I’ve never seen this plant. It grows abundantly in my back yard and loves the shade. It’s impossible to pull up as the stalk is very easy to break. It’s like a succulent in this way and the leaves are a little puffy as well. There are tiny yellow, orange to plum colored berries and tiny lavender flowers that never seem to open up. I know this isn’t a forum for Texas plants but I’m hoping somebody might be able to point me in the right direction. Thank you!
What's wrong with the fruit structure? Evergreen and Creepy: It's Winter Creeper! - Virginia Native Plant Society File:Euonymus japonicus Fruits 2009December13 DehesaBoyaldePuertollano.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
The fruit from OP-s photo seems to be divided into several compartments like fruits of Euonymus: I can't see more structure details from the photo. @Michael F please specify, what fruit structure elements from the photo contradict with Euonymus? I suppose, these aren't mature fruits.
The very long, slender, paniculate inflorescences (rather than thick-stemmed cymose) and small fruit. It's altogether too 'delicate', Euonymus much 'coarser'. Also E. fortunei (and a.f.a.i.k. all Euonymus) flowers are green; this has bright pink flowers (pic #4).
Inflorescence (or its shape or structure) is not exactly a fruit structure. Color of flowers - also not. I think, there was no flowers in full bloom on the OP-s photos. I agree, that this plant is possibly a Talinum, but I see plenty of similarities with Euonymus on OP-s photos. There are ca 130 species in the genus Euonymus, pink and orange are represented in Euonymus fruit colors. Talinum flowers are like this: Talinum crassifolium | Talinum crassifolium
Google image search "Euonymus cochinchinensis" has some results with pink Euonymus flowers: Euonymus cochinchinensis - Google Search
Agreed on the Talinum. Strange about not seeing the flowers ever open -- I would expect them to be open in brightest sun.
I want to apologize for not taking the time to react to any of the replies here! I had a garage sale this weekend and had too much on my plate getting ready for it and was too worn out. I am going to take more photos today and see if I can get some better close ups because I don't think that any of the guesses so far are correct, but I do appreciate everybody's input.
Ok- so I went out this morning and pulled one of these to photograph inside. I wish I had a better camera. I included my hand for scale. There are no hairs on either side of the leaves or any on the stems. The flowers and berries are tiny and I have yet to see an open flower. I will look again this afternoon. I snapped one of the leaves to get an idea of the thickness and I can see now that they are not puffy but they have the feel of succulent leaves- very soft and easy to break. I broke open one of the stems and there was a lot of clear liquid- kind of like aloe very but not with any gel. The dark berries have little round black seeds- about a dozen each. I'm curious to know if there is any medicinal value to this plant or if they are edible. Thanks again for all the replies!
It is highly likely a Talinum. Probably T. fruticosum. If true, then its leaves are edible. Talinum fruticosum - Wikipedia Talinum Fruticosum Is A Herbaceous Perennial Plant Stock Photo - Image of herb, medicine: 177665302 Just put a branch with flower buds into a vase, then you should see, when flowers will open.
Sulev- I think you are correct! I'm going to do more research and also try to get a look at an open flower, since it seems that the flowers do open after all- thanks for the vase tip. Thanks so much!!! Once i'm sure I will try a bite and give my opinion here on how it tastes to me. I'd really like something to add to my iceberg lettuce to get in more vitamins without having to buy spinach.
Compare your flowers with that: Figure 1 from A Novel Autogamous Self-Pollination Strategy Involving Closing of Perianth Lobes in Talinum fruticosum (L.) Juss. | Semantic Scholar
