Species Detail Forb

Flower		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Portulaca halimoides - silkcotton purslane Synonyms: Portulaca parvula Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub Family: Portulacaceae
Flower


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Leaves Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)	Plant Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)

Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native Life Cycle: Annual
General Desc: A small, spreading, succulent plant that can colonize any given area.
Identification notes: Leaf axil hairs are many and longer than 1 mm; leaves linear and cylindric; sepals not ridged; flowers less than 5/16 inch diameter.
Height: Can spread to 9 feet

Habitat

Habitat Description: Grows in sandy, loose soils in open, sunny areas.
Plant Communities: Desert Scrub, Interior Chaparral, Semidesert Grasslands, Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Disturbed Areas
Elevation: 3200 - 6200 feet

Flower Characteristics

Color: Yellow to reddish Shape: Regular in round clusters Tubular: N Flowering Period: May - Sep
Description: Tiny flowers are in clusters of 2 to 10 at the ends of stems. Older flowers become reddish.

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Green Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Shape: Narrow Leaf Margin: Smooth Leaf Attachment: Whorl Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: Leaves and stems Spines: N
Leaf Description: Green succulent leaves can have a pinkish tinge and are mostly whorled. Stems are prostrate and reddish. Hair-like strands appear at the nodes.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Color: Gray
Fruit Type: Capsule
Fruit Notes: Each tiny capsule contains many seeds.
Seed Notes: Seeds are grain-like.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer