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Portulacaceae / botanical study

Portulacaceae family

Purslane Family

9 catalogue species · Order Caryophyllales

The Portulacaceae family (Purslane Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Caryophyllales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 9 species across 2 genera. Its members are predominantly herbs. Well-represented genera include Portulaca and Talinum. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Sun plant, Common purselane and Shaggy Portulaca.

Explore the species roster ↓

Field identification keys

Compare several features together. These are typical family patterns; individual species can vary. Observe without tasting or handling unfamiliar plants.

Stem cross-section
Round
Distinctive marker
Capsule fruit pops open with a lid (circumscissile); fleshy leaves and stems store enough water to keep the plant alive for days after uprooting.

Familiar members: Ghol · Nonia · Mukkuli Keerai · Pasalai Keerai · Ghol

Species in Portulacaceae

9 of 9 species

Native status is regional. Range tags distinguish Kew WCVP dataset matches from individual reviews. Pet-filter records report no known toxicity to cats and dogs; some sources cover a genus or cultivar. Review the source context. Missing values are excluded, and no rating establishes suitability to eat or freedom from other hazards.

Portulacaceae species, origin and reviewed pet status
Botanical nameCommon & regional namesOrigin & reviewed pet status
Portulaca oleraceaGhol

Common purselane / Garden purselane / Indian parselane

  • घोल · कांडली · लोणा (hi) · Ghol, Kandli, Lona, ghol
  • गड्यॉउला झार · कुल्फा साग · नोना (ne) · Gadyaulaa Jhaar, Kulfaa Saag, Nonaa
  • বড় লনিয়া · সি কলস · নুনিয়া (bn) · Bara Laniya, Ghee Kalam, Nunia
+5 languages
  • கோழிக்கீரை · பருப்புக்கீரை (ta) · Koli-K-Kirai, Paruppu-K-Kirai
  • బొడ్డు పావిలికూర · గంగాబాయిలికూర · పప్పుకూర (te) · Boddu Pavilikura, Gangabaili Kura, Pappukura
  • ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗೋಣಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು · ಕಿರುಗೋಣಿ (kn) · Dodda Goni Soppu, Kirugoni
  • കൊഴുപ്പ · മണൽചീര · ഉപ്പുചീര (ml) · Kozhuppa, Manalcheera, Uppucheera
  • घोळ · घोळू (mr) · Ghol
Introduced: India ↗︎
Kew dataset

Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Macaronesia, Africa, EC. & S. Europe to Pakistan and Arabian Pen..

Toxicity reported: cats, dogs, horses ↗︎
Rating context

NC State: low severity under 'Poisonous to Humans' it is also eaten as a vegetable, and the page says oxalates are toxic only in high amounts. NC State's 'Poisonous to Humans' rating is for people generally, not children specifically. ASPCA Purslane page (aspca-purslane) rates it toxic to dogs, cats and horses (soluble calcium oxalates) reviewer may prefer 'toxic' for pets. Pets set to toxic: ASPCA rates it toxic, stricter of the two ratings kept (coordinator edit).

Portulaca grandifloraNonia

Sun plant / Common rose moss / Rose moss / Ten O' clock plant

  • नोनिया · पोर्टुलाका ग्रन्डीफ़्लोरा (hi) · Nonia, portulaka grandiflora
  • दशबजे फूल (ne)
  • টাইম ফুল (bn)
+1 languages
  • గడ్డి గులాబి · టేబుల్ రోజా (te)
Introduced: India ↗︎
Kew dataset

Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Peru to Brazil and Argentina.

Portulaca pilosaMukkuli Keerai

Shaggy Portulaca

  • മുക്കുലീ കീരൈ (ta) · Koli mulaiyan, koli munaiyan, Mukkuli keerai
  • Gedde geni soppu (kn)
Introduced: India ↗︎
Kew dataset

Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: C. & S. U.S.A. to Trop. & Subtrop. America.

Portulaca quadrifidaPasalai Keerai

Chicken Weed

  • பசலை கீறை (ta) · Pasalai keerai
  • ಗೋಳಿಸೊಪ್ಪು · ಗೋಣಿಸೊಪ್ಪು · ಹಾಲಿಬಚ್ಚೆಲೆ (kn) · Goli soppu, Goni soppu, Haalibacchele
Native: Assam, India, Laccadive Is. ↗︎
Kew dataset

Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Trop. & Subtrop. Old World to SW. Pacific.

Portulaca oleracea var. linearifoliaGhol
  • घोल · कांडली · लोणा (hi) · Ghol, Kandli, Lona
  • गड्यॉउला झार · कुल्फा साग · नोना (ne) · Gadyaulaa Jhaar, Kulfaa Saag, Nonaa
  • বড় লনিয়া · সি কলস · নুনিয়া (bn) · Bara Laniya, Ghee Kalam, Nunia
+5 languages
  • கோழிக்கீரை · பருப்புக்கீரை (ta) · Koli-K-Kirai, Paruppu-K-Kirai
  • బొడ్డు పావిలికూర · గంగాబాయిలికూర · పప్పుకూర (te) · Boddu Pavilikura, Gangabaili Kura, Pappukura
  • ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗೋಣಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು · ಕಿರುಗೋಣಿ (kn) · Dodda Goni Soppu, Kirugoni
  • കൊഴുപ്പ · മണൽചീര · ഉപ്പുചീര (ml) · Kozhuppa, Manalcheera, Uppucheera
  • घोळ · घोळू (mr) · Ghol
Native: India ↗︎
Kew dataset

Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Portulaca linearifolia. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: NW. India.

Portulaca tuberosaBichhu Bel

Tuberous Purslane

  • बिच्छू बेल (hi) · Bichhu bel
Native: India, Laccadive Is. ↗︎
Kew dataset

Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Indian Subcontinent to N. Australia.

Talinum portulacifoliumFlameflower
    Native: Assam, India ↗︎
    Kew dataset

    Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Trop. & S. Africa, S. Arabian Pen., Indian Subcontinent to Myanmar.

    Portulaca umbraticolaWingpod Purslane
      Not listed native: India ↗︎
      Kew dataset

      Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: C. & SE. U.S.A. to Trop. America. Not listed native does not establish introduction or absence from India.

      Talinum fruticosumPasali

      Ceylon Spinach

      • pasali (hi)
      Introduced: India ↗︎
      Kew dataset

      Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Trop. & Subtrop. America.

      Key pattern

      Fleshy, water-storing leaves on low, often prostrate succulent herbs; short-lived flowers open only in sunlight, ripening into a capsule that pops open with a lid (circumscissile).

      The fleshy leaves and stems store enough water that a pulled-up purslane plant can survive and even re-root for days on a bare surface — a trait that makes it a notoriously persistent garden weed.

      Identify the species

      Which Portulacaceae species is this?

      Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Portulacaceae species.

      Family identification method

      To check whether a plant belongs to Portulacaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.

      Learn the full family-identification method

      Families that can look similar

      Amaranthaceae

      Compare against Amaranthaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

      Compare Amaranthaceae

      Cactaceae

      Compare against Cactaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

      Compare Cactaceae

      Polygonaceae

      Compare against Polygonaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

      Compare Polygonaceae

      Aizoaceae

      Compare against Aizoaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

      Compare Aizoaceae

      Meet Portulacaceae in the field

      Point your camera, explore possible matches and compare the field marks. Identification runs on your phone, offline and private.

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