Purslane (
Portulaca oleracea) is a summer annual broadleaf plant that is native to Persia. It has smooth purplish red prostrate stems that sprout up from a single taproot. There are clusters of small oval leaves at the ends of the branches.
P. oleracea is grown as a vegetable (stems and leaves) in some parts of the world and grows in both cold and warm climates. Flowers only bloom for a few hours in the middle of the day when it is warmest.
Toxic components
All parts of
P. oleracea contains oxalic acid (oxalates), alkaloids and cardiac glycosides.
