Saranai, sathi in Hindi, is horse purslane, a fleshy creeping weed that covers Indian fields after monsoon rains. It is one of the worst weeds of kharif crops such as cotton, maize and groundnut. In the herb trade it has been used to bulk out or replace punarnava, Boerhavia diffusa, which it superficially resembles. Its young leaves are cooked as a green in some regions.
- Botanical name
- Trianthema portulacastrum L.
- Family
- Aizoaceae
- Tamil
- Saranai
- Hindi
- Sathi
- Parts used
- Leaf, Whole herb in mills
- Habit
- Succulent horse purslane, a monsoon field weed
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Sathi
It is a sprawling, succulent annual with reddish stems that lie flat or rise at the tips.
The leaves are fleshy, rounded and in unequal pairs, one large and one small at each node, with stalks that sheath the stem.
Small pink or white flowers sit almost hidden in a pocket at the base of the leaf stalk.
The fruit is a small capsule whose top comes off like a lid to release black seeds.
Punarnava has pink flowers on long stalks and sticky fruits; common purslane has yellow flowers and alternate leaves.
Traditional use of Sathi
Kitchen
Young shoots are cooked as a leafy green in parts of India and Africa, usually boiled and drained.
Indian and African food practice
Herb trade
Dried horse purslane has been sold in place of or mixed with punarnava root and herb.
Indian herb trade
Modern notes on Sathi
Weed scientists rank it among the most competitive weeds of Indian rainy-season crops, able to cut yields sharply if not removed early.
The leaves accumulate oxalate and nitrate, and grazing animals have been poisoned by eating large amounts.
Testing herbal products by microscopy and chemical markers can detect it when it is sold as punarnava.
Sathi safety
If eaten, cook it and drain the water to reduce oxalate, and eat only small amounts. Do not let livestock graze heavily on dense stands.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows throughout the tropics and subtropics on disturbed, fertile ground.
Its seeds sprout quickly after rain and can form dense mats within weeks.
Pieces of stem can root again after weeding.
Related plants
Questions about Sathi
Is Sathi punarnava?
No. Punarnava is Boerhavia diffusa.
Is Sathi purslane?
No. Common purslane is Portulaca oleracea, with yellow flowers.
Can Sathi be eaten?
Young leaves are cooked in some regions, in small amounts.
Why is Sathi a problem weed?
It spreads fast after rain and smothers crop seedlings.
How can I recognise Sathi?
Look for unequal leaf pairs and flowers hidden at the leaf base.
Sources
- Trianthema portulacastrum L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q3335516 (Trianthema portulacastrum)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.