Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Portulaca suffrutescens Engelmann
(Shrubby Purslane)
Family: Portulacaceae
Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
Portulaca suffrutescens is a much branched small herb with short terete leaves. The flowers are orange. The fruit is a circumscissile capsule containg many tuberculate (bumpy) seeds. Portulaca suffrutescens is found in gardens and disturbed areas at middle elevation.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
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Portulaca suffrutescens, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., WD Ranch Road, Aug. 12, 2008
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Portulaca suffrutescens, being pollinated, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., WD Ranch Road, Aug. 12, 2008
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Portulaca suffrutescens, capsule with lid already gone in center and a capsule still with lid just above it, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Lake, October 31, 2009
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Portulaca suffrutescens, tuberculate seeds from inside capsule, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Lake, October 31, 2009
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