Portulaca oleracea

Portulaca oleracea (common purslane, also known as little hogweed, or pursley) is a succulent plant in the family Portulacaceae. All parts of the plant are edible raw or cooked.

Description

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.

Edible Uses

Leaves and stems are eaten raw or cooked. Young leaves make a welcome addition to salads, and their mucilaginous quality makes them a useful thickener in soups, serving as a substitute for okra. Older leaves work well as a potherb. The flavour is somewhat sour, spicy, and slightly salty. Leaves are a source of omega-3 fatty acids, though seed sources such as walnuts are far richer. Leaves can be dried for later use and contain approximately 1.8% protein, 0.5% fat, 6.5% carbohydrate, and 2.2% ash. A more detailed analysis per 100g dry weight gives: 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, 10560–20000µg beta-carotene equivalent, 0.23–0.48mg thiamine, 1.12–1.6mg riboflavin, 5.58–6.72mg niacin, and 168–333mg ascorbic acid. Seeds are edible raw or cooked and can be ground into a powder and combined with cereals for gruels, bread, and pancakes. They are rather small and fiddly to harvest, but in arid parts of Australia plants can produce around 10,000 seeds each, and a person can collect several pounds per day by uprooting seeding plants, piling them on sheets, and collecting the shed seeds after a few days. Yields in Britain are likely to be much lower, particularly in cool or wet summers. Seeds contain per 100g dry weight: 21g protein, 18.9g fat, and 3.4g ash; fatty acids are 10.9% palmitic, 3.7% stearic, 1.3% behenic, 28.7% oleic, 38.9% linoleic, and 9.9% linolenic. Ash from burnt plants can be used as a salt substitute.

Traditional Uses

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.

Medicinal Uses

The plant is antibacterial, antiscorbutic, depurative, diuretic, and febrifuge. The leaves are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, considered important for heart health and immune function, though seed sources such as walnuts are significantly richer. Fresh juice is used to treat strangury, coughs, and sores. Leaves are poulticed and applied to burns, and both the leaves and juice are particularly effective for skin diseases and insect stings. A tea made from the leaves is used for stomach aches and headaches. Leaf juice is applied to earaches and is said to relieve caterpillar stings. Leaves can be harvested any time before flowering and used fresh or dried. This remedy is not given to pregnant women or patients with digestive problems. Seeds are tonic and vermifuge, and are prescribed for dyspepsia and opacities of the cornea.

Distribution

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.

Where It Grows

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, PNG, 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,

Cultivation

Requires a moist light rich well-drained soil in a sunny position. Plants will not produce good quality leaves when growing in dry conditions. 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. It can become an aggressive weed in areas where the climate suits it. The flowers only open in full sunlight. Purslane is occasionally cultivated for its edible leaves, there are some named varieties. The 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, providing edible leaves for most of the summer.

Propagation

For an early crop, sow seed under protection in early spring and plant out in late spring. For outdoor crops, sow in situ from late spring to late summer, with successional sowings every two to three weeks to maintain a steady supply of leaves.

Other Uses

None known.

Production

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.

Other Information

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.

Notes

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.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

TOXIC

Spotted Spurge

Euphorbia maculata

Hardyplants at English Wikipedia

Safe

Purslane

Portulaca oleracea

(c) María Eugenia Mendiola González, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by María Eugenia Mendiola González

Spotted Spurge: Milky white latex sap when broken, thinner leaves often with dark spot, prostrate growth, tiny flowers.

Purslane: Clear sap, thick succulent leaves, reddish smooth stems, yellow flowers.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

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

References (372)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 41
• Aberoumand, A., 2008, Comparison of protein values from seven wild edible plants of Iran. African Journal of Food Science. Vol 2. pp 73-76
• Aberoumand, A. and Deokule, S. S., 2009, Determination of Elements Profile of Some Wild Edible Plants. Food Anal. Methods. 2:116-119
• Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
• Addis, G., Asfaw, Z & Woldu, Z., 2013, Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants of Konso Ethnic Community, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 11:121-141

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