Portulaca oleracea L.
Common purslane, pussley, pursley, pressley, wild portulaca, little hogweed
Common purslane is a native of North Africa through the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent to Malesia and Australesia. It is now a widespread weed in North America. About 40 varieties of this species are cultivated for food. Depending upon your point of view, purslane is an aggressive weed (one of the ten worst in the world by some standards); an amazing plant that can prosper in almost any climate; a great ingredient for salads, soups, or stir fries; or a medicine and health food.
Plants: Green or red stems and are low-growing, mostly prostrate, spreading in a circular growth pattern up to 2′ (60 cm).
Leaves: succulent—thick, fleshy, and storing water—a trait usually found only in arid climate plants. They are ⅜–1¼″ (9.5–31 mm) long, alternate (occasionally opposite) and sessile or very short-stemmed, roughly oval but thicker on the end away from the stem, and (oblanceolate to obovate).
Flowers: Pale or deep yellow, with five notched petals, ⅛″ (4 mm) across, appearing July to September.
Fruits: Many-seeded capsules. A single plant can produce nearly 200,000 seeds.
Habitats: Rich, sandy soils; disturbed or compacted soils; nearly any climate.
Edibility: Leaves and stems may be added raw to salads. Like okra, they contain a think gel-like substance and may be used to thicken soups or stews. Leaves are described by different sources as sour, salty and spicy, lemon-like, or mushroom-like. Seeds, which have fairly high fat and protein content and are high in iron, are ground into a powder and mixed with cereals.
Medical: Like many common plants, purslane has a long history of medical applications. Purslane is said to be antibacterial, antiscorbutic, depurative, diuretic and febrifuge. Leaves are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, higher than any other leafy green vegetable. Omega-3s are presently believed to have beneficial effects for the immune system, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and even a range of psychological disorders. Plant juices are applied to the skin to aid in the treatment of skin irritations, diseases, or insect stings; they have also been used to treat coughs. Many other uses are known; see Plants for a Future for additional details.
Online References:
References:
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 150
4/13/2015 · Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 9 × 7″ (22 × 16 cm) 
Purslane is just a few inches tall. It is on this fence only for a photo-op. · 7/25/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm) 
7/25/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm) 
4/13/2015 · Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 15 × 10″ (37 × 25 cm) 
7/25/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (16 × 23 cm) 
7/25/2013 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 7″ (15 × 17 cm) 
4/1/2025 · Tagus Cove, Isabella, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador 
4/13/2015 · Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Caryophyllidae | Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts |
| Order | Caryophyllales | Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants |
| Family | Portulacaceae | The purslane family, including mostly succulent plants such as portulaca |
| Genus | Portulaca | Possibly from portula, “little gate,” in reference to a lid on the fruit capsule |
| Species | oleracea | Means “of the vegetable garden” because it is edible |
Portulaca oleracea description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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