Common Purslane Flower Common Purslane Stem Common Purslane Plant


Wildflowers of Southern Arizona


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Common Purslane.
Portulaca oleracea.
Purslane (Portulacaceae) family.

The flowers are 1/4 inch (6 mm) across and have 5 notched petals. The leaves have reddish margins and are green, plump, fleshy, oval to spoon-shaped, and broadest near their rounded tips. The stems can take root at the nodes and are trailing, succulent, and reddish in color. Stressed plants may have bright orange or hot pink stems. The plants grow from a taproot and are low-growing, spreading, and mat-forming.

Edible - The leaves and young stems are edible either raw or cooked as a potherb. The leaves are rich in iron. The seeds are very small, but are also edible. This plant does contain oxalic acid, so consume in moderation.



Santa Catalina Mountains.
Gordon Hirabayashi Prison Camp
Location: On road in circular turnaround at end of campground road.
9/22/16

See SEINet Pictures and Description

See FireFly Forest Pictures and Description

Thumb: Shrubby Purslane
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R. Primrose »