Abundance: common
What: stems, leaves
How: raw or cooked
Where: sunny sidewalk cracks, yards,
When: spring, summer
Nutritional Value: Vitamins A, C, Bs; minerals, omega-3 fatty acid
Medicinal Summary:
Leaves/Stem/Flowers/Seeds - high in omega-3 fatty acids; improves heart strength; antidepressant (eaten)
Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately at the lower part of the stem and opposite or whorled towards the top.
Leaf Shape: The leaves are small, fleshy, and spatulate or obovate, typically measuring about 0.5 to 1.5 inches in length.
Leaf Venation: Due to the fleshy nature of the leaves, the venation is not really visible.
Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are smooth (entire).
Leaf Color: The leaves are a bright green, sometimes with a reddish tinge, especially along the edges.
Flower Structure: The flowers are small and solitary, with five petals, opening only in bright sunlight.
Flower Color: The flowers are yellow.
Fruit: The plant produces a small, round capsule.
Seed: The seeds are tiny, round, and black.
Stem: The stems are thick, fleshy, reddish-green, and often spreading or trailing along the ground.
Hairs: There are no hairs on the leaves or stems.
Height: Common Purslane is a low-growing plant, typically reaching only a few inches in height but spreading widely.
Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping.
North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Here in Houston purslane is often found thriving in the cracks of sidewalks and driveways during the worst of summer's heat. The tiny black seeds are prolific and will easily grow in containers, flowerbeds and just about anywhere else. Purslane will also reproduce from plant fragments, making it very easy to propagate.
Purslane is very rich in omega 3 fatty acids as well as other nutrients. It is delicious raw, steamed, fried or cooked. The thickest stems can also be pickled using the recipe & canning time of pickled okra.
The toxic Spotted Spurge (Euphorbia maculata) shows up at the same time as Purslane and while they may look somewhat similar to novices, they are very easy to tell apart. Spotted Spurge stems always remain thin, never even becoming even as thick as a pencil lead whereas Purslane stems can become thicker than a pencil's shaft. The spurge's stem always is a dark red while purslane stems very from green to purple, though are often "earthworm" pink/red. Spurge bleeds a white, latex sap but purslane's sap is clear if it even is seen. Spurge leaves remain small and flat while purslane leaves become thickly succulent and as large as the first joint of a pinkie finger.
Purslane (left, large, edible) and Spotted Spurge (right, thin, poisonous).
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