General:
Annual succulent herb from a taproot; stems usually prostrate, several, freely branched, 10-30 cm long.
Leaves:
Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves alternate to sub-opposite, spoon- to egg-shaped, 1-3 cm long, 3-10 mm wide, involucral-like at the stem tips.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of axillary and terminal clusters of unstalked flowers; buds pointed at the tips; petals usually 5, yellow, 3-5 mm long; sepals 2, keeled, sharp-pointed, 3-4 mm long; stamens 6-10, joined at the base.
Fruits:
Capsules, 3-8 mm wide; seeds black, with fine projections, 0.6-1 mm long.
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Portulaca neglecta Mack. & Bush
Portulaca oleracea subsp. granulatostellulata (Poelln.) Danin & Baker
Portulaca oleracea subsp. impolita Danin & Baker
Portulaca oleracea subsp. nicaraguensis Danin & Baker
Portulaca oleracea subsp. nitida Danin & Baker
Portulaca oleracea subsp. papillatostellulata Danin & Baker
Portulaca oleracea subsp. stellata Danin & Baker
Portulaca retusa Engelm.