Common purslane

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• garden purslane
• pusley
• Common Purslane
• Posteline
• Postely
• Pussley
• Pigweed
• portulaca-weed
• Munyeroo
• Pruslane
• Purslain
• cooter grass
• moss rose
• red root

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Portulaca officinarum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Portulacaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Portulaca, with the specific species name oleracea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several parts of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is well-documented in countries such as Denmark and Finland. It can also be found growing throughout the regions of Sweden and Great Britain. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species extends its reach into Middle Europe. Specifically, this medicinal plant has been identified as being native to Austria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Portulaca oleracea is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments and a broad altitudinal distribution. It thrives across an elevational range spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 2550 m AMSL. This species demonstrates high ecological plasticity, colonizing a wide variety of habitats including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the semi-arid Caatinga (stricto sensu), floodplains (Campo de Várzea), open fields (Campo Limpo), and specialized ecosystems such as Carrasco and coastal Restinga. This ability to inhabit both disturbed human-altered landscapes and specialized natural formations underscores its resilient and opportunistic ecological nature.

Elevational range max:

2550 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo de Várzea, Campo Limpo, Carrasco, Restinga

Genetics

The genetics of Portulaca oleracea are characterized by a notable degree of chromosomal variation and polyploidy within the species. The chromosome number is highly variable, with documented values including 14, 18, 36, 45, 52, and 54, reflecting a complex karyotype that contributes to its adaptability. Despite this diversity in total count, the species is fundamentally identified with a diploid ploidy level of 2, indicating the baseline chromosomal state from which these variations emerge.

Chromosome number :

14,18,36,45,52,54

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Portulaca oleracea is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, though it can exhibit variable growth patterns depending on environmental stability. As a therophyte, it completes its entire life cycle within a single growing season, relying on seeds to survive unfavorable periods. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its succulent tissues as the season concludes. Its biological strategy is defined by this therophytic life form, which allows it to rapidly colonize disturbed areas and exploit seasonal resources before completing its reproductive phase.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Portulaca oleracea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial and non-epiphytic species grows as an independent plant, meaning it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a prostrate shoot orientation, spreading along the ground as a self-supporting organism rather than acting as a vine or liana. In terms of dimension, the plant height typically ranges from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.22 m. Additionally, the shoot length of the plant varies significantly, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 50 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.22 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Shoot length max:

50 cm

Shoot length min:

5 cm

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Portulaca oleracea is characterized by specialized adaptations for water conservation and efficient resource management, most notably through its C4 photosynthetic pathway, which allows for enhanced carbon fixation under varying environmental conditions. As a succulent species, it possesses specialized tissues for water storage, a trait reflected in its leaf morphology; the leaves are orbicular in form and arranged in an alternate pattern along the stem. Morphological measurements indicate a mean leaf length of 2 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a maximum of 4 cm, while the mean leaf width is 0.5 cm, with values spanning from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 2 cm. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of approximately 0.25725 cm² and a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 185.05 cm²/g, indicating a specific balance between leaf thickness and surface area. Furthermore, the plant is non-carnivorous and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on its distinct metabolic and succulent structural traits to thrive.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

orbicular

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf length mean:

2 cm

Leaf length min:

0.7 cm

Leaf size mean:

0.25725 cm²

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

185.05 cm²/g

Succulence :

yes

Reproduction

Reproduction in Portulaca oleracea is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and continues through September. These flowers are yellow in color and range in length from 0.4 cm to 1 cm. The pollination syndrome is biotic, specifically relying on insects for the transfer of pollen, and self-fertilization is present. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dry fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules vary in size, with a mean length of 0.5 cm (ranging from 0.3 to 0.9 cm) and a width between 0.2 and 0.45 cm. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are very small, featuring a mean length of 1 mm, a mean volume of 0.52 mm³, and a mean mass of approximately 0.0002427 g (with a range from 0.00004 g to 0.00045 g). Dispersal of these seeds follows an unspecialized pattern, though they also exhibit anthropochorous tendencies, meaning they are frequently dispersed by human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

1 cm

Flower length min:

0.4 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.9 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.5 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.45 cm

Fruit width min:

0.2 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00045 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000242700666666667 g

Seed mass min:

4e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.52 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Portulaca oleracea has 4 reported plant parts identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. The Science of the total environment
4. Phytochemistry
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Seed

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Drug and chemical toxicology
3. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
4. Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy

Root

1. The Science of the total environment
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Biological trace element research

Stem

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Portulaca oleracea has 164 reported phytochemicals identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, ascorbic acid, linoleic acid, POTASSIUM, ferulic acid.

Flavonoids

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology
4. Nutrients
5. Natural product research

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Natural product research
4. Molecular biology reports

linoleic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of vector borne diseases
4. International journal of molecular sciences

POTASSIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. TheScientificWorldJournal

ferulic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Journal of vector borne diseases

kaempferol

1. Food chemistry
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

palmitic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of vector borne diseases
3. International journal of molecular sciences

quercetin

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Journal of pharmacopuncture
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. TheScientificWorldJournal

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke
2. Environmental monitoring and assessment

Activities

Portulaca oleracea has 577 reported activities identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Hepatoprotective, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fish physiology and biochemistry
3. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Biological trace element research

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Phytochemistry
4. International journal of molecular sciences
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Heliyon
3. Toxicology reports
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Frontiers in nutrition

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacopuncture
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
5. Natural product research

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytochemistry
3. Archives of Razi Institute
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Natural product research

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
3. Phytochemistry
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Natural product research

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Phytochemistry
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacopuncture
3. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences

Antiasthmatic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
3. Journal of natural products

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacopuncture
3. Molecular nutrition & food research

Conditions

Portulaca oleracea has 80 reported investigations on conditions identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, asthma, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, obesity.

Inflammation

1. Food chemistry
2. Food science & nutrition
3. In silico pharmacology
4. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Asthma

1. Journal of pharmacopuncture
2. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR
3. Journal of natural products
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Cancer

1. Journal of pharmacopuncture
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Gastrointestinal diseases

1. Nutrients
2. Environmental science and pollution research international
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Obesity

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
2. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Oxidative stress

1. Food science & nutrition
2. Drug and chemical toxicology
3. Open veterinary journal

Atherosclerosis

1. Molecular nutrition & food research
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Atopic dermatitis

1. Journal of pharmacopuncture
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Colitis

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Molecular nutrition & food research

Insomnia

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Current drug discovery technologies

Preparations

Portulaca oleracea has 42 reported preparations identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include CO2 extract, PO extract, methanolic extract, 70% ethanol extract, Ethanol extract.

Co2 extract

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. International journal of biomaterials

Po extract

1. Mediators of inflammation
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanolic extract

1. Heliyon
2. Talanta

70% ethanol extract

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Ethanol extract

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethyl acetate fraction (eaf:)

1. Current drug discovery technologies

Extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hydro-ethanolic extract

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Hydroethanolic extract

1. Mediators of inflammation