Purslane
Portulaca oleracea

Family: Portulacaceae

What it is like

A spreading branched herb. It lies flat on the ground. It grows each year from seed. The plants spread 10 to 50 cm wide. The stems are purplish. The leaves are fleshy, flat and shaped like a wedge at the base. They are 1.5 to 2.5 cm long and 0.3-1 cm wide. The flowers are yellow and occur in a few rounded heads. They are 0.8-1.5 cm across. They bloom about the middle of the day. The capsules are 0.5 cm long and oval. The seeds are black and shiny.

There are about 200 Portulaca species. They are mostly in the tropics and subtropics. Chemical composition: seeds are reported above-average for angiosperms for the amino acids Glycine and Tyrosine. It has a C4 pathway. It is rich in Omega-3's.

Where it is found

It grows in tropical and temperate regions. They are common in waste places throughout the Philippines. It is a common self sown plant in lowland areas and up to 1700 m altitude in the tropics. It grows to 2,400 m above sea level in Guatemala. It prefers sandy well drained places. It can grow on salty soils. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 7-12. Tasmania Herbarium. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Amazon, American Samoa, Andamans, Angola, Anguilla, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azores, Bahrain, Balkans, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Caroline Islands, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Crete, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, England, Equatorial-Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Middle East, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, NW India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Serbia, Sicily, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St Lucia, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uganda, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The stems and leaves are cooked and eaten. Usually the skin is scraped off then the plant is boiled and mashed. It thickens stews and other dishes in which it is cooked. It is used as a pot herb. It is used in soups. The fleshy stems are pickled. Sprouted seeds are eaten in salads. The seeds are ground for use in cakes and bread. Caution: In areas where a lot of nitrogen fertiliser is used plants can cause nitrate poisoning. Plants can also have oxalates.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. In Papua New Guinea it is now only very rarely used by some older people in some coastal areas. In many countries it is eaten as a vegetable. They are sold in markets in India and Mexico. In some countries var. sativa is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, herb, spice, vegetable, flowers, stems

How it is grown

It roots easily from broken pieces. It can be grown from stem cuttings. It can be grown from seed.

The first harvest of leaves can be a month after planting. In the tropics it can complete its lifecycle in 2-4 months. Often it is harvested in the dry season when other vegetables are in short supply.

Its other names

Local names

Adilagae, Alang galgala, Amadilika,Anamatavy, Andracla, An ni ze che, An-thau, Atka bwslai, Ayiyoyiyo, Bagla, Bagleh, Baqleh, Balamba, Balbalia, Bam, Baralaniya, Baralaynia, Baraloniya, Barbir-frefro, Barthoslai, Beldroega, Bembe, Berbeer, Berbine, Bhuigholi, Bredo-de-porco, Brihalloni, Brucacchia, Buraloniya, Caa ounga, Chinguru, Chitu, Corie keeray, Dalda sak, Danda-danga, Dandur, Danduri, Darli arxa, Dhuras, Dooddagooni soppu, Ekalitete, Emporretos, Ensamelata, Errejla, Etebite, Farfahaina, Fique, Gaga otu, Gandhaa fellaa, Ganga pavilli kura, Ganga-pavilikura, Garyaunla jhar, Gedha, Gelang pasir, Genda-kola, Gharghas, Ghol, Ghola, Ghol bhaji, Gholu, Ghwarghostai, Golgola sag, Goli, Goni, Green purslane, Gulasiman, Hah thengia, Hamdhieh, Hangshmoi, Hangswgarma, Hong zhu mu cai, Igwanisha, Ilenjane, Ingwanitsha, Inrainuthei, Isilate, Isilele, Jangli kulfa, Kabogam, Kamama, Kamole, Kamumama, Kariecheera, Karikeerai, Karo, Katuli, Kelpomough, Kharbari, Khurfa, Khursa, Kinyukwi, Kolfa, Kozhupa, Kozhupacheera, Kozhupasoppu, Krimbua, Krokot, Kulfa, Kulfa lonak, Kundar, Kurfah, Kutbo, Laha, Leibak kundo, Leibak kundo, Lisan el bagara, Little hogweed, Llutu yuyu, Lohorok, Lonak, Lonamla, Loni, Lonika, Loonk, Lorni booti, Lorniki booti, Lor salori, Luna, Lung, Lunishak, Lunri, Ma chi xian, Machixian, Makhuluwaluvhisi, Majincai, Malbhog khutura, Malbhog sak, Ma lian cai, Matako-ya-bibi, Ma zha cai, Medinica, Mhotighol, Missikoumbere, Moti, Motiluni, Motauric, Msukana, Munyeroo, Mya-byit, Myet-htauk, Nailyara, Navadni tolščak, Nboga nene, N'bosse-kinta, Noniya, Nonte shak, Nshigilelyo, Nunabhaji, Nundhiki, Nune, Nunia sak, Nyele-nyele, Olasiman, Ora-pro-nobis, Pa bo liang, Pali echi, Pallpena, Parkhorai, Parpank, Parparik, Paroopoo, Paruppu, Paruppukiray, Pechel, Peddapail kura, Peddapayilikura, Pelpine, Perchiacchia, Perchiazze, Phak bia-yai, Pigweed, Pirpar, Pirpere, Pirpirim, Pirtugakas, Porcelana, Porcsin, Portulaca, Portulak, Postelein, Pourpier, Pucciddana, Pullikirai, Purchaccchia, Purchiazz, Purciddana, Purunisag, Pusley, Pussley, Qalqalah, Ranghol, Rau sam, Regila, Reuma tape, Rigila, Rigla, Rubidta, Salada-de-negro, Sanburtzel, Sangulah, Selele, Semizlik, Semiz otu, Silele, Soebireum, Solele, Sormai, Ssezzira, Stir, Suberi-hiyu, Summer purslane, Tamole, Taukukunivuaka, Temizlik otu, Terwikai, Thukouro, Trejla, Tshitopitopi, Tsikobona, Tuchenitsa, Tumeghio, Tumeighio, Tusac, Tust, Ubijon, Udumbukoluppukeerai, Umbintchim, Vardolaga, Varhori, Verdolaga, Verdulaga, Wakati, Warkharray, Weinya zar, Woosta, Wur, Yawati mikuna yuyu, Yi ca mo ni, Yuyo, Zangali warkhrhay

Synonyms

Portulaca aurea Hort. ex DC.; Portulaca consanguinea Schlecht; Portulaca diptera Zipp. ex Span.; Portulaca fosbergii Poelln.; Portulaca intermedia Link. ex Schltdl.; Portulaca laevis Buch-Ham.; Portulaca officinarum Crantz; Portulaca olitoria Pall.; Portulaca parviflora Haw.; Portulaca suffruticosa Thw.; Portulaca viridis Hort. ex DC.; Portulaca retusa;