NATIVE WILD FLOWERS 

 PURSLANE Portulaca oleracea (L.). 



This is one of the troublesome weeds of our gardens, and 

 one would hardly associate it with the brilliant showy 

 flower of our borders. We must, however, recognize it as a 

 near relation. The original of the cultivated Portulaca of 

 our gardens is P. grandi flora, from South America, whence 

 it was introduced some years ago. Even in its wild state, 

 or on its native prairies, it is a strikingly attractive flower, 

 claiming the admiration of the beholder; but our humbler 

 species is regarded as a thing of naught. The simple Pur- 

 slane, however, has its virtues, and we will try to rescue 

 it from being utterly despised by showing how it may be 

 utilized. When the plant first appears it pushes forth small 

 wedge-shaped succulent leaves, of a dull red color, and soon 

 spreads over the ground, branching at every thickened joint. 

 If the soil be rich it becomes very luxuriant, and being very 

 tenacious of life, it is difficult to get rid of it, as it springs 

 again from the joints, flourishing the more vigorously from 

 the persecution it has undergone. The axil of every joint 

 is furnished with a small sharply-pointed red bud. The 

 flowers are small, pale yellow, opening in sunshine; the pod 

 many seeded, with a little round lid that covers the top of 

 the capsule. 



The soft, oily mildness of the leaves and stalks of this 

 plant renders it useful as an application, crushed or steeped 

 in hot water or milk, for inflammatory tumors. I have seen 

 it also recommended as a pot-herb for the table in fact, it 

 is largely grown in France for that purpose; I have also 

 heard it said that it may be used as a dye, but that the blue 

 ^color produced is very evanescent.* 



* I cooked it for greens and found it very nice. A.D.C. 



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