PORTULACACEAE
Morphological description
Herbs (sometimes woody at base), leaves and stems succulent; usually creeping and main root tuberous.
Leaves
Leaves succulent; usually exstipulate but sometimes with axillary hairs.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence.
Flowers
Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic; stamens opposite the petals. Usually sepals 2, petals 4-6 nearly free, ovary superior.
Fruit
Fruit a capsule opening with an operculum.
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Aizoaceae (Sesuvium): interpetiolar stipules.
Distribution: The family is pantropical. In Malesia 4 genera of which 2 native: - Montia, alpines of New Guinea; - Portulaca, widespread in coastal areas.
Notes: Portulaca and Talinum* are both cultivated as ornamentals and for their edible leaves.
Literature:.R. Geesink, Fl. Males. I, 7 (1971) 121-133.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Portulacaceae 83.
Illustrations: Fig. 149. Portulaca pilosa L. subsp. sundaensis (Poelln.) Geesink (Portulacaceae). a. Habit; b. flowering end of a branch; c. flower. Reproduced from Flora Malesiana I, 7 (1971).
Image in PhytoImages for Portulacaceae