Portulaca oleracea L.

Family

Portulacaceae

Synonyms

Portulaca oleracea L. ssp. oleracea, Portulaca oleracea L. ssp. sativa (Haw.) Schübl. & Mart.

Vernacular Names

Geographical Distributions

Portulaca is a genus consisting of about 40 species, mainly tropical and subtropical in distribution. In Southeast Asia, 5 species are present. P. oleracea is a cosmopolitan weed (wild and cultivated) whose origin is unknown. Mexico and Australia are considered to be centres of its diversity. The cultivated forms probably originated in the Old World.

Description

Portulaca oleracea is an erect or ascending annual herb that can grow up to 50 cm tall. The leaves are obovate to spoon-shaped, measuring 2-40 mm x 1-20 mm, and with inconspicuous axillary hairs measuring up to 1 mm long.

The inflorescences are 2-30-flowered, with 2-8 involucral leaves, with carinate sepals and measuring up to 6 mm x 6 mm. There are (4-)5 yellow petals, which are broadly obovate and measuring up to 7 mm x 6 mm. There are 7-10(-15) stamens which are usually alongside 5-armed style.

Ecology / Cultivation

Portulaca oleracea is more tolerant of lower temperatures, it occurs in Java up to elevations of 1800 m. For P. oleracea, populations are often adapted to certain climatic and edaphic conditions. Diploid populations often grow as halophytes in coastal areas, tetraploids are found in the widest range of latitudes and altitudes while hexaploids are found mainly at high latitudes and altitudes.

Line Drawing / Photograph

References

1. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 8: Vegetables.