Portulacaceae (weeds)
From Pestinfo-Wiki
Portulaca oleracea (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): Otto Wilhelm Thomé
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Author(s): Otto Wilhelm Thomé
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Portulacaceae (weeds) - (purslane family)
The family contains around 500 species of herbs as well as some shrubs. Some are used as ornamentals but others are weeds, above all common purslane, Portulaca oleracea, which is widely distributed and affects various crops like cereals, vegetables, and leguminous field crops.
The flowers are often tiny and have typically 4-6 petals which may be divided. Fruits are capsules. The family is very similar to the Caryophyllaceae but the flowers have only two sepals.
The following genera and individual species are currently entered under this family:
