Portulaca pilosa
Family: Portulacaceae
Plant Description: Annual with erect to prostate stems up to long15 cm long and fleshy, linear leaves 5-15 mm long. Leaves alternate, axils woolly. Petals 3-6 mm long, rose-purple. Fruit splitting around its equator.
Plant Trivia: Related to “moss rose” sold in nurseries. The Latin name, Portulaca, means “little gate“, and describes the lid on the fruit capsule.
Field Identification:
Occurrence: Native habitat is in disturbed areas, beaches, and roadsides. Needs good drainage.
Bloom Period:
Plant Use: Works well in a hanging basket or in rock gardens.
Key to the species of Portulaca:
- Leaves linear……………………………………………………………………………P. pilosa
Leaves not linear…………………………………………………………………………………2
2. Rim of caplsule winged………………………………………………………P. umbraticola
Rim of capsule not winged…………………………………………………..P. oleracea
stxflora 