Portulaca

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Portulaca
Portulaca villosa Cham.
Portulaca villosa Cham.
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Portulacaceae
Genus: Portulaca L.

Species
about 40-100, see text

Portulaca (purslane) is the type genus of the purslane family Portulacaceae, comprising about 40-100 species (probably much fewer and potentially far far more) found in the tropics and warm temperate regions. It is also sometimes known as Rose Moss.

Common Purslane Portulaca oleracea is widely considered an edible plant, and in some areas an invasive type of weed. Some Portulaca species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including The Nutmeg.

Selected species

Gallery