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.



Portulaca suffrutescens, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., WD Ranch Road, Aug. 12, 2008



Portulaca suffrutescens, being pollinated, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., WD Ranch Road, Aug. 12, 2008



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



Portulaca suffrutescens, tuberculate seeds from inside capsule, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Bill Evans Lake, October 31, 2009


Back to the Index