Portulaca oleracea
L., Sp. Pl. 445. 1753; Dyer in Fl. Brit. India 1: 246. 1874.
Erect or decumbent herbs, up to 40 cm high. Leaves fleshy, spirally arranged or
subopposite, 2 -
4 x 1.5 -
15 mm, obovate-spathulate or linear-terete, with inconspicuous,
ca 1 mm long axillary hairs. Flowers 2 -
30 in capituli, with 2 involucral leaves, surrounded
by ca 5 x 6 mm bracteoles and inconspicuous hairs. Sepals up to 8 x 8 mm, carinate;
carina ca 2 mm high. Petals 4 or 5, yellow, 3 -
10 x 8 mm, broadly obovate. Stamens 7 -
10 (- 15); filaments ca 4 mm long; anthers small. Styles up to 5 mm long with 3 -
5 arms.
Capsules ca 4 x 3 mm, ovoid; operculum 2/3 to 1/2 the length of capsule, shining,
straw-yellow. Seeds many, reniform, 6 -
7 mm in diam., shining black, granulate, testa
cells stellulate with many tubercles.
Notes. Danin, A. et al. (Israel J. Bot. 27: 177 - 211. 1978) used seed size and morphology to describe nine subspecies under P. oleracea. Two varieties are recognized in India.
Notes. Danin, A. et al. (Israel J. Bot. 27: 177 - 211. 1978) used seed size and morphology to describe nine subspecies under P. oleracea. Two varieties are recognized in India.
KEY TO THE VARIETIES
| 1a. Leaves linear, subterete; seeds 55 - 75 per capsule | 2.1. linearifolia |
| b. Leaves spathulate, obovate, dorsi-ventral; seeds 20 - 25 per capsule | 2.2. oleracea |
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