Portulaca oleracea L.

Root Structure

Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) grows from a taproot, with fibrous secondary roots.

Mature Size

Mature plants can reach up to 40 centimetres (16 inches) in height.

Stem Characteristics

It has smooth, reddish stems that are mostly prostrate.

Leaf Arrangement

Its leaves, which can be arranged alternately or oppositely, are clustered at stem joints and stem ends.

Flower Features

The yellow flowers have five regular structural parts and grow up to 6 millimetres (1⁄4 inch) wide.

Flowering Period

Depending on rainfall, flowers can appear at any time of year.

Flower Opening Pattern

Individual flowers open at the center of a leaf cluster for only a few hours on sunny mornings.

Fruit Type

Tiny seeds develop in a pod that splits open when the seeds reach maturity; the fruits are many-seeded capsules.

Seed Production Volume

This species produces a large number of seeds, with large plants reported to produce up to 240,000 seeds.

Germination Temperature

Seeds germinate best at temperatures above 25 °C.

Germination Light Requirements

They require light to germinate, and even a 5 mm layer of covering soil negatively impacts their germination rate.

Growth Cycle

Although it is usually an annual plant, it grows as a tropical perennial in United States Department of Agriculture growing zones 10–11.

Distribution Type

Purslane has an extensive distribution, thought to be mostly anthropogenic (also called hemerochoric).

Native Range

Its range extends from North Africa and Southern Europe, through the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, to Malesia and Australasia.

Americas Native Status

The native status of this species in the Americas is uncertain.

Pre-Columbian Presence Evidence

In general, it is often considered an exotic weed, but evidence from Crawford Lake deposits in Ontario shows it was present between 1350–1539 CE, which suggests it reached North America in the pre-Columbian era.

Pre-Columbian Use

Scientists have suggested that the plant was already consumed by Native Americans, who spread its seeds.

Arrival Route Uncertainty

The route of its arrival in the Americas is currently unknown.

Drought Tolerance

The taproot of purslane allows the plant to tolerate poor soil and drought conditions.

Pest Resistance

Compared to other common crop plants, P. oleracea has higher pest tolerance, thanks to its waxy outer covering that protects it from insects and diseases.

Antifungal Properties

In some cases, P. oleracea is known to have antifungal properties.

Fungal Pathogen 1

However, certain phytotoxic metabolites produced by the fungus Drechslera indica can cause necrosis on purslane.

Fungal Pathogen 2

Another fungus, Dichotomophthora portulacae, can cause stem rot in the plant.

Insect Host 1

P. oleracea is a confirmed host plant for Hyles lineata.

Insect Host 2

Schizocerella pilicornis and Hypurus bertrandi are known to feed on Portulaca oleracea.

Weed Control Potential

In some cases, these feeding insects can reduce the competitiveness of P. oleracea to prevent weed infestation in areas where P. oleracea is not wanted, though they cannot stop it from growing entirely.