Portulaca halimoides

Plants annual; roots fibrous. Stems prostrate to suberect, often pinkish, succulent; trichomes conspicuous at nodes and in inflorescence; branches to 3–20(–25) cm. Leaf blades linear to oblong-linear, terete to hemispheric, 2–14(–20) × 0.4–2(–3) mm, apex obtuse to acute; involucrelike leaves 4–8. Flowers 3–8 mm diam.; petals yellow, obovate, 2–4 × 1–2.5 mm; stamens 4–18; stigmas 3–4(–5). Capsules ovoid, 1.1–2 mm diam. Seeds 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. 2n = 18.

Phenology: Flowering late spring–early fall.
Habitat: Dry soil, sand dunes, arroyos
Elevation: 900-2300 m

Ariz., Calif., Colo., Nev., N.Mex., Okla., Tex., Utah, West Indies, Central America, South America.

Discussion

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.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa