Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea, Linnaeus, C. (1753). Species plantarum, exhibentes plantas rite cognitas ad genera relatas cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas. Stockholm.)

Family: Portulacaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Linnaeus, C. (1753). Species plantarum, exhibentes plantas rite cognitas ad genera relatas cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas. Stockholm.

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Portulaca

Vegetable: True

Observations: Macaronesia, Trop. Africa, Medit. to Pakistan and Arabian Pen.

Description

Common purslane, scientifically recognized as Portulaca oleracea, is a widespread succulent plant known for its vibrant green leaves and its ability to thrive in a variety of climates. This hardy annual plant is a member of the Portulacaceae family and can often be found carpeting the ground with its sprawling growth habit.

First described by Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work Species Plantarum (1753), common purslane has captured interest not only for its resiliency but also for its culinary and medicinal uses. Its natural habitat spans a broad geographical area, including Macaronesia, Tropical Africa, and regions from the Mediterranean to Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula. This distribution highlights the plant’s adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, from arid deserts to temperate coastal areas.

The small, spoon-shaped leaves of common purslane are succulent and retain water, making them an excellent choice for xeriscaping and drought-prone areas. The stems are reddish and slightly angular, often forming a dense mat that can cover the ground effectively, preventing soil erosion. Tiny yellow flowers emerge from the leaf axils, adding a touch of color to its otherwise green foliage.

This plant is not just a botanical curiosity; it has practical applications that extend to human health and nutrition. Common purslane is edible and highly nutritious, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds. It’s commonly consumed in salads, soups, and stir-fries across various cultures, appreciated for its slightly tangy and salty flavor.

Additionally, Portulaca oleracea holds a place in traditional medicine, where it has been used to treat an array of ailments from gastrointestinal issues to skin conditions. Modern research supports many of these traditional uses, validating its role as a valuable natural remedy.

In summary, common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is a remarkable plant with a rich history and a broad range of uses. Its ability to adapt to different environments, coupled with its nutritional and medicinal benefits, make it a notable species within the Portulacaceae family. Whether seen as a weed or a wonder, common purslane continues to thrive and provide value across the globe.

Common Names

Eng: akulikuli-kula, common purslane, duckweed, garden purslane, little hogweed, little-hogweed, portulaca-weed, purslane, pursley, wild portulaca, pigweed, posteline, postely, pusley, pussley
Deu: europäischer portulak, körnchen-gemüse-portulak, papillen-gemüse-portulak, portulak, stern-gemüse-portulak, wilder portulak, wilder-gemüse-portulak
Lit: paprastoji portulaka
Dan: portulak
Pol: portulaka pospolita
Spa: verdolaga
Ara: baqlah, barbir, rijlah
Kin: batema
Por: beldroega
Lav: d
Est: harilik portulak
Nld: postelein
Fra: pourpier, pourpier potager, pourpier maraîcher, pourpier gras
Swe: vildportlak, portlak
Cym: gwlyddyn cyffredin, porpin
Ita: porcellana comune
Nob: portulakk
Nno: portulakk
En: Common purslane, Portulaca-weed, Purslane, Little hogweed, Garden purslain, Little-Hogweed, Garden purslane, Bileueng, Moss rose, Pigweed, Pusley, Red root, Verdolaga, नोनीया साग, ဗၠံင်ဗၠေတ်၊ တၞံ, Akulikuli-kula, Duckweed, Pursley, Wild portulaca, Posteline, Postely, Pussley, Green Purslane, Common Purselane, Garden purselane, Indian parselane
Ab: Абадырбҕьы
Af: Gewone porslein, Varkkos
Ar: Barbir, Baqlah, Rijlah, برابره، ذنب الفرس, حميله، بقل، فرفج, رجل (رَجْل)، رشاد (رَشاد), رجله (رِجله)، رجله رومى (رجْله رومى), البقلة, الرجلة, بقلة حمقاء, بقلة لينة, بقلة مباركة, بقلة, بقله حمقاء, رجلة, رجيلة, فرفح, فرفحى, فرفحين, فرفير
Hy: Դանդուռ սովորական
Az: Dirrik pərpərəni
Eu: Getozka
Be: Партулак агародны
Bn: বড়ো নুনিয়া
Bg: Тученица
Ca: Verdolaga
Zh: Ma chi xian, 五行草, 地马菜, 猪母菜, 酸苋, 长寿菜, 马蛇子菜, 马齿苋, 马齿菜
Co: Arba fratesca, Erba fratesca
Hr: Tušt
Cs: Šrucha zelná
Da: Portulak
Dv: ގެދަ
Nl: Postelein, Zomerpostelein
Et: Harilik portulak
Fi: Vihannesportulakka, Rikkaportulakka
Fr: Pourpier, Porcelane, Pourpier commun, Pourpier maraîcher, Pourpier potager, Pourpier gras, Croupier, Porcelaine, Pourpier rouge, Pourpier cultivé
Gl: Beldroega
De: Portulak, Burzelkraut, Bürzelkohl, Gemüse-Portulak, Gewürz-Portulak, Kreusel, Sauburtzel, Sommer-Portulak, Sommer-Postelein, Europäischer Portulak, Körnchen-Gemüse-Portulak, Papillen-Gemüse-Portulak, Stern-Gemüse-Portulak, Wilder Portulak, Wilder-Gemüse-Portulak
El: Ανδράκλα, Ανδράχλη, Αντράκλα, Αντραχλίδα, Γλιστρίδα, Γλυστιρίδα, Γλυστρίδα, Ολισθηρίς, Πορτουλάκη η λαχανηρά, Σκλιμίτσα, Τρευλό, Χοιροβότανο
Ht: Koupye
He: פרפחינא, פרפחינה, פרפכינא, פרפכינה, רגלת הגינה, ריג’לה
Hu: Kövér porcsin
Is: Súpugull
Io: Portulako
Id: Gelang biasa
It: Porcellana comune, Erba porcellana, Purciddana, Erba-porcellana, Portulaca oleracea, Porcellana
Ja: Suberi-hiyu
Kk: Бақша қараоты
Rw: Batema
Ko: Soebireum, 쇠비름, 쇠비름꽃
Ku: Pirpar
Lv: Dārza portulaka, D
Lt: Paprastoji portulaka
Mk: Обична толчница, Толчница
Ms: Gelang pasir, Pokok Gelang Pasir, Pokok Rumput Beremi, Pokok Segan Jantan
Ml: ഉപ്പുചീര, കൊഴുപ്പ
Mr: घोळ
Nv: Tséghániłchʼi
Nb: Portulakk
Nn: Portulakk
Os: Цæхдонгæрдæг
Fa: پرپهن, پرپین
Pl: Portulaka Pospolita, Portulaka Warzywna
Pt: Beldroega
Ro: Iarba grasa, Portulacă
Ru: Portulak ogorodnyj, Portulak ovosenoj, Портулак огородный
Sr: Тушт
Si: ගෙඳ
Sk: Portulaka zeleninová
Es: Verdolaga, Borzolaga, Engañagochos, Lengua de gato, Loraca, Malmuere, Navadni tolščak, Nuncamuere, Portulak, Verdalaga, Verderaja, Verdolaga angosta, Verdolaga blanca, Verdolaga colorada, Verdolaga común, Verdolaga española, Verdolaga hortense, Verdolaga real, Verdolaga romana, Verdolaga silvestre, Verdulaga, Verdolago
Sv: Vildportlak, Portlak
Tl: Karaniwang gulasiman, Karaniwang kulasiman, Karaniwang ulasiman, Pang-karaniwang gulasiman, Pang-karaniwang kulasiman, Pang-karaniwang ulasiman, Pangkaraniwang gulasiman, Pangkaraniwang kulasiman, Pangkaraniwang ulasiman, Pigweed
Zh-tw: 馬齒莧
Tg: Хурфа
Ta: தரைக்கீரை
Th: คุณนายตื่นสาย
To: Tamole
Zh-hant: 馬齒莧
Tr: Semiz otu, Semizotu
Uk: Портулак городній
Uz: Semizoʻt
Vi: Rau sam
Cy: Porpin, Gwlyddyn Cyffredin

Synonyms

• Portulaca oleracea var. sylvestris (DC.)
• Portulaca hortensis (Rupr.)
• Portulaca officinarum (Crantz)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Aldabra (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Angola (native)
• Ascension (native)
• Benin (native)
• Burkina (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• Chad (native)
• Chagos Archipelago (native)
• Congo (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Gabon (native)
• Gambia (native)
• Greece (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Guinea-Bissau (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• Gulf States (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Kuwait (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Liberia (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Mali (native)
• Mauritania (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Niger (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Oman (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Seychelles (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Sierra Leone (native)
• Sinai (native)
• Socotra (native)
• Somalia (native)
• St.Helena (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Altay (introduced)
• Amur (introduced)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Aruba (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Baleares (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Belarus (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Belize (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Borneo (introduced)
• Botswana (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Cayman Is. (introduced)
• Central American Pac (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Chile North (introduced)
• Chile South (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Christmas I. (introduced)
• Cocos (Keeling) Is. (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Corse (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• Desventurados Is. (introduced)
• District of Columbia (introduced)
• Djibouti (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Easter Is. (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Finland (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• French Guiana (introduced)
• Galápagos (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Guyana (introduced)
• Hainan (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Howland-Baker Is. (introduced)
• Hungary (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Inner Mongolia (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
• Kamchatka (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Kazan-retto (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Kirgizstan (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Laccadive Is. (introduced)
• Laos (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Lesotho (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Line Is. (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Malawi (introduced)
• Malaya (introduced)
• Maldives (introduced)
• Maluku (introduced)
• Manchuria (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexican Pacific Is. (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Gulf (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Mozambique Channel I (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Namibia (introduced)
• Nansei-shoto (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• Netherlands (introduced)
• Netherlands Antilles (introduced)
• Nevada (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• Nicobar Is. (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North Dakota (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ogasawara-shoto (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Paraguay (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Phoenix Is. (introduced)
• Pitcairn Is. (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Prince Edward I. (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Qinghai (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Rodrigues (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Rwanda (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Sardegna (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Solomon Is. (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• South China Sea (introduced)
• South Dakota (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Sulawesi (introduced)
• Sumatera (introduced)
• Suriname (introduced)
• Swaziland (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Switzerland (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Tibet (introduced)
• Tokelau-Manihiki (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Tubuai Is. (introduced)
• Turkmenistan (introduced)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (introduced)
• Tuvalu (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Vanuatu (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Wallis-Futuna Is. (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• West Siberia (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Wyoming (introduced)
• Xinjiang (introduced)
• Zambia (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Feb 7, 2020 by Danny Poulson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 9, 2020 by Юрий Юрий (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 24, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 24, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 3, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 3, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Oct 24, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 19, 2017 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 19, 2017 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 24, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 3, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jul 13, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 30, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2018 by Marcos Rivas Campoamor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Nov 7, 2017 by Pedro Salgadinho (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 24, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 28, 2018 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 25, 2019 by Juan Carlos Jara (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 30, 2022 by Roghaye Rashanvar (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 27, 2022 by M. Hedayat (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 1, 2017 by David Rinaldis (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3084719)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:323270-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Portulaca oleracea L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 2

Soil nutriments: 7