The Logogriph of Purslane: lonica or louina, koursa, kholza and perpehen, adrajne agria, portulaca, baqla hamqa,crazy vegetable, riyla, furfir, farfan, farfag, farfagin, missita, verdilacas, yerba aurato and yerba orate,Crazy herb?
Article Content:
- .Basic Botanical Info of Purslane.
- .Origin of the name.
- .Botanical description,Ecology and phytogeography.
- .Proprieties, uses and cultivation.
- .Medicinal Action and Uses.
- .Phytochemicals and constituents of Purslane.
- .Benefit of Purslane.
- .Dosage and application of purslane.
- .Research update:Portulaca oleracea.
Botanical description,Ecology and phytogeography.
Purslane is an annual, herbaceous plant, with branched, decumbent on fairly ascending stems of up to 50 cm, and which are reddish, fleshy and glabrous. The leaves measure 0.5 to 3.3 x 0.2 to 1.5 cm, are obovate, entire and fairly papillose. The flowers are yellow and solitary or in axillary groups of two or three. The fruit is in a capsule (pyxidium) of up to 7 mm. The seeds measure 0.6 to 1 mm; they are reniform, black, and maintain their germinating capacity for eight to ten years. Of orthodox behaviour in germination, their viability is maintained much more if they are stored dry at a low temperature.
Habitat and Distribution: It grows in full sun in cultivated fields, field margins, and other weedy areas throughout the world.
Purslane was one of the most widespread horticultural plants in the Old World since distant times. It was taken to America where it was naturalized, as in Europe, in gardens, among rubble and at waysides. It originates from the region extending from the western Himalayas to southern Russia and Greece. In eastern Asia it does not seem to be spontaneous. In Greece it is spontaneous and cultivated. Vavilov (1951) categorizes it in the Mediterranean countries of the Near East and central Asia as a weed and vegetable.
Nowadays it is distributed over the hot temperate zones of a great part of the world. Together with other species of the genus it occurs as a weed in the majority of tropical and subtropical countries.
It is cultivated in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and other European countries. It is a popular winter vegetable in northern India. In Spain, it very frequently occurs as a volunteer, but it is very rare as a crop.
Reference:
1.The Logogriph of Purslane: lonica or louina, koursa, kholza and perpehen, adrajne agria, portulaca, baqla hamqa,crazy vegetable, riyla, furfir, farfan, farfag, farfagin, missita, verdilacas, yerba aurato and yerba orate,Crazy herb?




