common purslane

Common purslane is a widely distributed, very common succulent weed of disturbed sites. It occurs worldwide on every continent except Antarctica. It is common in Minnesota. It is found in agricultural fields, gardens, and commercial greenhouses, on roadsides, and in other disturbed sites. It is often seen growing in sidewalk cracks.

The nativity of common purslane is uncertain. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines native plants as those that occurred naturally in a particular region withuot human introduction. More commonly, it refers to plants that were present before European colonization began around the late 15th century. It was probably introduced into North America in pre-Columbian times. There is evidence of it in lake deposits in Ontario dating from 1350 to 1539. Nevertheless, most sources continue to classify it as invasive in North America. Its spread is assumed to be resulting from human activity. Today it is widely naturalized across the United States and southern Canada.

Common purslane is difficult to control once it becomes established. A single plant can reproduce a vast amount of seeds. The stems and leaves contain much water. When separated form the parent plant, they can regenerate roots and produce a new plant.

Common purslane is a 2″ to 6″ tall annual forb that rises on many stems from a stout, ¾″ to 4″ long, taproot. It forms large mats.

The stems are X¾″ to 22″ long and lay flat on the ground (prostrate). They are repeatedly branched, round in cross section, thick, fleshy, and juicy (succulent). They are hairless and usually purplish brown, sometimes light green with a reddish tinge.

The leaves are alternate, flat, succulent, spatula-shaped to inversely egg-shaped or wedge-shaped, ⅛″ to 1⅛″ long, and 1 ⁄16″ to ½″ wide. They are green and glossy, often becoming reddish-tinged in strong sunlight. They are stalkless or on very short leaf stalks and are often crowded at the end of the branch. They are rounded to nearly straight across at the tip and taper slightly to the base. The upper and lower surfaces are hairless. The margins are untoothed.

The inflorescence is a solitary flower or a small cluster of flowers of 2 or 3 at the end of the stem.

The flowers are ⅛″ to ¼″ in diameter. There are 2 sepals, 5 petals, 6 to 10 stamens, and 1 style. The sepals are green and usually enclose the flower, opening only on sunny mornings. The petals are yellow, oblong, ⅛″ to 3 ⁄16″long, and 1 ⁄16″ to ⅛″ wide. They are not joined at the base. The stamens have translucent yellow filaments and yellow anthers. The style has 5 branches.

The fruit is a round to egg-shaped, ⅛″ to ⅜″ in diameter capsule. It is not winged. It splits around the middle when ripe to release many seeds.

2″ to 6″

Yellow

Dry to moderate moisture. Gardens, roadsides, agricultural fields, sidewalk cracks, and other disturbed sites. Full sun.

June to September

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 22, 24, 28, 29, 30.

The nativity of common purslane is uncertain.

Common and widespread

Many subspecies and varieties (subtaxa) of common purslane have been described. Authoritative sources have little agreement on how many variants should be recognized, if any, and what those variants should be. ITIS, USDA PLANTS, and World Flora Online recognize no subtaxa. GRIN, GBIF, and Plants of the World Online recognize two, though not the same ones. iNaturalist lists five subtaxa. NaturServe lists seven.

Portulaca oleracea | Purslane (Pt 1 of 2)
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Portulaca oleracea | Purslane (Pt 2 of 2)
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Common Purslane (Portulaca oeracea) - 2013-08-22
W3stlander

Wild edibles 24: Purslane vs. Spurge
Journey Outdoors

Location: Pennington County