Common purslane
July 31, 2015
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EmailPortulaca oleracea L.
Life cycle
Prostrate, mat-forming summer annual.
Common purslane plant.
Leaves
Cotyledons are oblong, hairless and succulent. Cotyledons and young leaves are maroon-tinted on the undersides. Thick, fleshy, succulent leaves are hairless, spatula-shaped and about 1 inch long or less. Leaves are alternate but appear opposite and are often crowded near the stem tips.
Common purslane seedling.
Stems
Prostrate, purplish red or green stems have multiple branches that form circular mats. Stems are thick, fleshy, succulent and hairless and up to 20 inches long.
Flowers and fruit
Small, yellow, star-shaped flowers with five petals are produced in the leaf axils, opening only on sunny mornings. Fruit are egg-shaped capsules that split around the middle, scattering many tiny, black, shiny seeds.
Common purslane fruit.
Reproduction
Seeds.
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