TALINUM paniculatum. Jewels of Opar. Central America. An interesting, old-fashioned perennial, little seen these days in California. It produces several short, thick stems from a tuberous rootstock. These are lined with broad, shiny leaves up to 3" long. The real show begins in late spring and continues through the summer months. Slender, intricately branched flowering stems rise as much as 2' above the foliage, displaying tiny, deep pink blossoms. These give way to berry-like seed capsules, which have a pearly sheen. It tends to self-seed around the garden but is easy to remove, wherever it is not wanted. Sun or light shade near the coast, part shade inland. Most soils, moderate watering. Hardy to 20^oF or less—probably much less, given its tuberous nature.