THERE ARE MORE THAN fifty species of purslane growing worldwide, although Portulaca oleracea is one of the most commonly widespread varieties found in temperate and colder climates. Purslane is a low-growing fleshy succulent herb. It often has reddish stems that spread horizontally across the ground. It has stems that branch out from a central root and create a mat over the ground. The leaves are smooth and shiny and have a teardrop shape that is more narrow where it meets the stem and wider on the outside edge. They are juicy and plump with liquid. Each leaf attaches directly to the reddish stem without a stalk and they are both alternately and oppositely attached. In colder climates, purslane emerges from the winter’s hibernation only once the temperatures increase in heat toward late spring or summer. In warmer climates, it grows yearround as a perennial.
The flower is delicate, small, and yellow with five petals. It only opens for a short time in the presence of bright sun. The seeds are tiny, round, and black. They are formed in cuplike containers after the flowers have completed their growth cycle. The little black seeds spill out of their container once ripe. One plant can produce more than fifty thousand seeds. The seeds have evolved to endure over time and ensure reproductive success.
Photo © 2014 by Katrina Blair