PORTULACA OLERACEA subsp. OLERACEA

Family and Genus:- See- PORTULACACEAE

Common Names:- Common Purslane, Green Purslane, Little Hogweed,

Purslane.

Homotypic Synonyms:- Portulaca aurea, Portulaca consanguinea.

Meaning:- Portulaca (L) A name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher

Pliny, from a name porcilacca (cognate with purslane).

Oleracea (L) Of cultivation, aromatic.

General description:- Glabrous, somewhat succulent, herbaceous annual.

Stems:-

1) 5-25(-50) cm, fleshy, glabrous, procumbent to ascending, moderately branched.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate or subopposite, 5-25 mm, oblong to narrowly obovate, obtuse, with

small setaceous stipules.

Flowers:-

1) Solitary or joined together by 2-3 at the axil of the leaves.

2) Bracteoles, 2-3 at the base (sometimes regarded as a calyx).

3) Sepals, c. 4 mm, keeled, united into a short tube at the base.

4) Petals, 5, 6-8 mm, yellow, obovate, slightly united.

5) Stamens, 7-12.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 3-9 mm, obovoid; opening by a lid which is detached transversely;

2) Seeds, 0.5-1.2 mm, orbicular-reniform, usually black, shiny and conical-

tuberculate.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Seasonally damp spots in fields, gardens, roadsides, trampled flats and

other ruderal habitats. 0-400(-1100) m.

Distribution:- Throughout Greece. - C & S Europe and SW Asia, casual or

naturalised elsewhere. Fairly widespread on Crete. (probably introduced).

Flowering time:- Apr-July, occasionally at other times.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton