Desert portulaca (Plants of the Middle Rio Grande Bosque)

Desert portulaca

Portulaca halimoides

Summary ⁵

Portulaca halimoides, commonly known as Desert Portulaca or silkcotton purslane, is a member of the Portulacaceae family. It is an annual forb with yellow flowers. This plant is native to the southwestern deserts of the United States as well as areas in Northern Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Botanical information ⁶

Portulaca halimoides is the scientific name but is commonly known as Desert Portulaca, silk-cotton purslane, and/or sinkerleaf purslane. In May through September there are small yellow flowers clusters that will appear at the tip of the stem. The stems are pinkish succulent that can be 3-20 cm long with oblong, smooth, thick, green leaves. The leaves appear dull and reddish as it reaches the end of the life cycle. Older flowers may appear reddish, but this is due to the reddish sepals that cover the fruit capsules containing the seeds. White tufts of hair can also be found at the base of the flower clusters and in between the leaves.

Ecological Information ⁶

Desert Portulaca can be found growing in disturbed, sandy, sunny areas in the southwest United States deserts. Some insects, like caterpillars of moths and butterflies, may eat this plant.
Here’s a link to a more clear and bigger map of how Portulaca halimoides L. are distributed in the USA: http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/map/googlemap.php?usethes=1&taxa=293

Ethnobotanical Information ⁶

• In Brazil it has been used as a traditional remedy to cause diuresis (increased urine production), antipyresis (medication used to reduce body temperature) and analgesia (inability to feel pain).
• In rats, certain extracts from this plant help increase potassium excretion without a concomitant change in water diuresis or sodium excretion in rats.
• Can be used to treat renal failure.
Desert Purslane can be eaten raw or cooked and added to salads and lightly stir-fried dishes.

References ⁶

California Native Plant Society. (2012). Desert Portulaca, Portulaca halimoides. Calscape California Native Plant Society. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://calscape.org/Portulaca-halimoides-()

SEINet. (n.d.). Portulaca halimoides. SEINet Arizona-New Mexico Chapter. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=293

United States Department of Agriculture. (2014). Portulaca halimoides L. In
PLANTS Database. Retrieved November 20, 2021, from https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=POHA5

Wikipedia contributors. (2021, April 29). Portulaca halimoides. Wikipedia. Retrieved February 5, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_halimoides

Yavapai County Arizona Cooperative Extension. (n.d.). Portulaca halimoides-silk purslane. Yavapai County Cooperative Extension. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://cals.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php?genus=Portulaca&species=halimoides

About the Author ⁷

Student author*: Larissa (age 17) from Menaul School

*The entries in this field guide have been edited by Yerba Mansa Project staff to ensure that they contain quality, fact-checked content and standardized formatting.

Sources and Credits

(c) Nathan Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nathan Taylor
(c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/9864370704/
(c) Jerry Oldenettel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel/9864200825/
Adapted by Kiley Spurlock from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_halimoides
Adapted by Kiley Spurlock from a work by (c) lucyliang1, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
(c) smiller33, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

iNat Map

Roots	fibrous
Uses	edible, medicinal
Native	yes
Life cycle	annual
Type	Forb/herb
Habitat	sandy/disturbed areas
Flower	yellow

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