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Portulaca oleracea sativa
  • Golden Purslane

an annual member of the Portulaca genus in the family Portulacaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Portulaca oleracea sativa has 0 edible uses listed
Portulaca oleracea sativa has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves and stems - raw or cooked[1][2][3][4][5]. The young leaves are a very acceptable addition to salads, their mucilaginous quality also making them a good substitute for okra as a thickener in soups[2][6]. Older leaves are used as a potherb[2]. The leaves have a somewhat sour flavour[7]. A spicy and somewhat salty taste[8]. The leaves are a source of omega-3 fatty acids, though seed sources such as walnuts are magnitudes richer[9]. The leaves can be dried for later use[7]. They contain about 1.8% protein, 0.5% fat, 6.5% carbohydrate, 2.2% ash[10]. Another analysis gives the following figures per 100g ZMB. 245 - 296 calories, 17.6 - 34.5g protein, 2.4 - 5.3g fat, 35.5 - 63.2g carbohydrate, 8.5 - 14.6g fibre, 15.9 - 24.7g ash, 898 - 2078mg calcium, 320 - 774mg phosphorus, 11.2 - 46.7mg iron, 55mg sodium, 505 - 3120mg potassium, 10560 - 20000ug B-carotene equivalent, 0.23 - 0.48mg thiamine, 1.12 - 1.6mg riboflavin, 5.58 - 6.72mg niacin and 168 - 333mg ascorbic acid[11].

Seed - raw or cooked[12][13][14]. The seed can be ground into a powder and mixed with cereals for use in gruels, bread, pancakes etc[6][15]. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize[7]. In arid areas of Australia the plants grow quite large and can produce 10, 000 seeds per plant, a person can harvest several pounds of seed in a day. The seeding plants are uprooted and placed in a pile on sheets or something similar, in a few days the seeds are shed and can be collected from the sheet[15]. In Britain, however, yields are likely to be very low, especially in cool or wet summers[K]. The seed contains (per 100g ZMB) 21g protein, 18.9g fat 3.4g ash[11]. Fatty acids of the seeds are 10.9% palmitic, 3.7% stearic, 1.3% behenic, 28.7% oleic, 38.9% linoleic and 9.9% linolenic[11].

The ash of burnt plants is used as a salt substitute[6].

Leaves

Unknown use

Unknown part

Salt

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Portulaca oleracea sativa.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The plant is antibacterial, antiscorbutic, depurative, diuretic and febrifuge[2][16][17][18][19]. The leaves are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which is thought to be important in preventing heart attacks and strengthening the immune system[19]. Seed sources such as walnuts, however, are much richer sources[9]. The fresh juice is used in the treatment of strangury, coughs, sores etc[2][16][17][18]. The leaves are poulticed and applied to burns[9], both they and the plant juice are particularly effective in the treatment of skin diseases and insect stings[16][19]. A tea made from the leaves is used in the treatment of stomach aches and headaches[9]. The leaf juice is applied to earaches, it is also said to alleviate caterpillar stings[9]. The leaves can be harvested at any time before the plant flowers, they are used fresh or dried[19]. This remedy is not given to pregnant women or to patients with digestive problems[19]. The seeds are tonic and vermifuge[11][20]. They are prescribed for dyspepsia and opacities of the cornea[11].

Unknown part

Antiscorbutic
Depurative
Diuretic
Febrifuge
Vermifuge

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - for an early crop, the seed is best sown under protection in early spring and can then be planted out in late spring[2]. Outdoor sowings in situ take place from late spring to late summer, successional sowings being made every two to three weeks if a constant supply of the leaves is required[2].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Portulaca oleracea sativa. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a moist light rich well-drained soil in a sunny position[2][5][21]. Plants will not produce good quality leaves when growing in dry conditions[2].

A perennial plant in warmer climates than Britain, purslane is killed by frost but can be grown as a half-hardy annual in this country[1]. It can become an aggressive weed in areas where the climate suits it[22].

Occasionally cultivated for its edible leaves, this is a form of purslane with golden/yellow leaves. Plants take about six to eight weeks to produce a crop from seed and can then be harvested on a cut and come again principle[2].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Portulaca oleracea sativa. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Portulaca oleracea sativa.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Portulaca oleracea sativa
Genus
Portulaca
Family
Portulacaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]
Medicinal uses
[2][16][17][18][19][9][11][20]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[23]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    annual
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.25 x 0.25 meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Insects, Self
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    2. ? 2.002.012.022.032.042.052.062.072.082.092.102.11 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2 ()
    4. ? 4.04.1 Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8 ()
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Thompson. B. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son. (1878-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press ISBN 0-8623-0343-9 (1967-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.39.49.59.6 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre (1977-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.111.211.311.411.511.6 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.1 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)
    13. ? 13.013.1 Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books ISBN 0-394-72811-4 (1979-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.1 McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press ISBN 0-253-28925-4 (1977-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.115.2 Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. ISBN 0-207-14383-8 (1989-00-00)
    16. ? 16.016.116.216.3 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
    17. ? 17.017.117.2 ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X ()
    18. ? 18.018.118.2 Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. Australian Medicinal Plants. ()
    19. ? 19.019.119.219.319.419.5 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    20. ? 20.020.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
    21. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    22. ? Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J [Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas] Botanical Research Institute, Texas. (1999-00-00)
    23. ? ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)


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    Facts about "Portulaca oleracea sativa"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyPortulacaceae +
    Belongs to genusPortulaca +
    Has common nameGolden Purslane +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves +, Unknown part + and Seeds +
    Has edible useUnknown use + and Salt +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +, Insects + and Self +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual +
    Has mature height0.25 +
    Has mature width0.25 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntiscorbutic +, Depurative +, Diuretic +, Febrifuge + and Vermifuge +
    Has search nameportulaca oleracea sativa + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy namePortulaca oleracea sativa +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +