Scientific name: Portulaca oleracea L.
Common name: Pigweed, purslaneFamily: PortulacaceaeOrigin:Native of Australia. Habit:Annual succulent with prostrate branched stems. Habitat:Common plant found throughout Australia, considered a weed of tended and waste areas. General description:Stems and leavesStems are succulent and reddish in colour. Leaves are wedge-shaped or oblong 0.5-2 × 0.3-1 cm with petioles (leaf stalks) 2-5 mm long. There are very short white hairs in the axils of the leaves. Flowers and fruitFlowers are yellow, with four to six petals 5 mm long, borne single or small clusters from the leaf axils. Fruits are egg-shaped 4-5 mm long. Seeds are glossy black with a warty surface. Flowers in summer. Distinguishing characteristics:A succulent prostrate herb with reddish stems and small oblong to wedge-shaped leaves with short (less than 1 mm long) hairs in the leaf axils. Flowers are small and yellow Noxious status:Not noxious. It is suspected to be poisonous to stock. Sources:Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane. Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 1. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane. Auld, B.A. and Medd, R.W. (1996). Weeds: An Illustrated Botanical Guide to Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Sydney. |