Moss-rose Purslane (Portulaca grandiflora)
October 1, 2007 — Vasant M. SalianMoss Rose or Moss-rose Purslane (Portulaca grandiflora) are small but fast-growing flowering plants in the family Portulacaceae. Portulaca are native to South America, but are widely grown in temperate climates as well as an annual bedding or container plant.
Flowers are showy, with colours ranging from red, orange, pink, white, and yellow. Moss rose is a prostrate, trailing, multi-branched annual with semi succulent stems and leaves. It reaches about 6 in (15 cm) tall with a spread of 12 in (30.5 cm) The reddish stems and the bright green leaves are thick and soft and juicy. The leaves are cylindrical, about an inch long, and pointed on the tips. The rose like flowers are about an inch across and come in bright colours like rose pink, red, yellow, white, and orange. Some are striped or spotted with contrasting colours. The flowers are borne on the stem tips, and they open only during bright sunlight, closing at night and on cloudy days.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Caryophyllales
Family : Portulacaceae
Genus : Portulaca
Species : Portulaca grandiflora
Pronunciation/Meaning:
- Portulaca (por-tew-LAK-uh) - Carries milk.
- grandiflora (gran-dih-FLOR-uh) - With large flowers.
Common Names:
- Moss-rose Purslane, Moss Rose, Rose Moss
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