Portulaca halimoides
Portulaca smallii
desert portulaca, purslane, silkcotton purslane
Small's purslane
prostrate to suberect, often pinkish, succulent;
trichomes conspicuous at nodes and in inflorescence;
branches to 3–20(–25) cm.
prostrate to suberect, 2–15 cm;
trichomes conspicuous at nodes and in inflorescence.
blades linear to oblong-linear, terete to hemispheric, 2–14(–20) × 0.4–2(–3) mm, apex obtuse to acute; involucrelike leaves 4–8.
blades linear to lanceolate, terete to hemispheric, 4–15 × 0.5–3 mm, apex subacute to subobtuse; involucrelike leaves 7–10(–12).
3–8 mm diam.;
petals yellow, obovate, 2–4 × 1–2.5 mm;
stamens 4–18;
stigmas 3–4(–5).
6–12 mm diam.;
petals medium pink to almost white, oblong-elliptic, 3–5 × 1.5 mm, apex acute;
stamens 8–13;
stigmas 4–5.
ovoid, 1.1–2 mm diam.
subglobose, 2–3.5 mm diam.
gray or leaden, 0.3–0.5(–0.6) mm diam.;
lateral surfaces with densely arranged, flattened, stellate cells, tubercles absent; usually with a smooth, occasionally papillose, spine abaxially.
black or leaden, elongate, flattened, 0.6–0.8 mm;
surface cells stellate, tuberculate.
= 18.
= 18.
Portulaca halimoides
Portulaca smallii
Young plants of Portulaca halimoides in desert areas may exhibit reddish stems and sepals. As the yellow petals fade, the persistent, reddish sepals cover the top of the capsule, giving the false impression of red flowers. Immature seeds are reddish brown to brownish black and may be papillose. Morphologic variability occurs in relation to habitat differences over the range of this species. Desert conditions produce depauperate plants; more robust specimens occur in Central America and South America. The type of P. halimoides is conspecific with P. parvula A. Gray within this context. A. Gray (1887) cited P. halimoides from the Florida Keys; that is unconfirmed and is likely a confusion with P. rubricaulis.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Portulaca smallii has been considered a species of recent origin on granite outcrops. D. J. Cotter and R. B. Platt (1959) suggested that it is derived from P. pilosa, particularly considering the chromosome number of 2n = 16 reported by E. Steiner (1944) equaling that of P. pilosa. J. F. Matthews et al. (1994) examined that population of P. smallii researched by Steiner and found the chromosome number to be 2n = 18. This new determination, along with the lighter petal color, larger seed size, and distinct habitat, separates this species from P. pilosa.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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