Forage Plants of Australia. 



ORDER PORTULACE.E. 



PORTULACA OLERACEA, Lira. 



" Purslane." 



Flora Austr., Vol. J, p. 169. 



A LOW prostrate annual with succulent stems and leaves. The plant 

 sometimes spreads only 6 inches, but often exceeds 1 foot in length. The 

 leaves are alternate, but often clustered, mostly obtuse, and about t an. inch 

 long. The flowers are minute, several of them arranged together in 

 terminal heads. They open for a few hours only during the middle of 

 sunny days. At figure 1 is represented an enlarged drawing of a bud 

 showing the arrangement of the two sepals. At figure 2 is represented an 

 enlarged drawing of a flower which is composed of five petals slightly 

 united at the base, yellow, and very fugacious. At figure 3 is illustrated 

 the membranous capsule which contains numerous small black seeds. These 

 are collected by the aborigines during the summer months, and they use 

 them as an article of food. But we are not in a position to say whether 

 these seeds are nutritious or not. This plant is found in nearly all the 

 colonies, from the coast to the arid interior. In. some situations in the 

 coastal districts it is very plentiful, in fact it is often a pest in cultivated 

 ground. This plant produces seed so prolifically, and they germinate so 

 readily in the coastal districts, where rain can be depended upon, that it 

 is difficult to exterminate. In the arid interior, however, it is a valuable 

 pasture plant during the hot summer months. Its succulent stems and 

 leaves are much relished by all kinds of stock, and it often affords them 

 both food and moisture when the surrounding vegetation is somewhat 

 dried up during drought time. We have seen the seedlings spring up by 

 thousands after a thunderstorm in the summer months, and these soon 

 develop into good sized plants. The purslane has been cultivated in European 

 gardens for generations. It possesses anti-scorbutic properties. The 

 young shoots are often used in salads, and the older ones as a pot herb, 

 and sometimes for pickling. This plant is now spread nearly all over the 

 temperate parts of the earth. It is one of those cosmopolitan plants 

 which can make its home in any country and grow on any kind of soil, 

 provided it is not too cold. 



There are six other species of the genus found in Australia, but they 

 grow principally in the tropical parts of the continent. 



The order Portulaceae, under which these plants are arranged, is a 

 very small one. There are only three genera and about twenty-four species 

 recorded on this continent. There is only one species of the genus Claytonia, 

 and this is found in the valleys of the Blue Mountains. In a wild state it 

 bears large white flowers, which might be much improved by cultivation. 

 It is well worthy the attention of horticulturists. Some exotic species of 

 this genus are prized by gardeners, and these may be seen cultivated in 

 gardens. Claytonia perfoliata is one of the most singular species of this 

 genus, and is often grown as a curiosity. 



