Scientific Family
Portulacaceae
Synonyms
Portulaca parvula
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
Can spread to 9 feet
Riparian
No
A small, spreading, succulent plant that can colonize any given area.
Leaf axil hairs are many and longer than 1 mm; leaves linear and cylindric; sepals not ridged; flowers less than 5/16 inch diameter.
Habitat
Grows in sandy, loose soils in open, sunny areas.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
3200
High elevation
6200
Flower Characteristics
Tiny flowers are in clusters of 2 to 10 at the ends of stems. Older flowers become reddish.
Flower color
Yellow to reddish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Green succulent leaves can have a pinkish tinge and are mostly whorled. Stems are prostrate and reddish. Hair-like strands appear at the nodes.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Each tiny capsule contains many seeds.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Gray
Seeds are grain-like.