338 



EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN. 



PURSLANE FAMILY. PORTULACACEAE. 



This small family of about 150 species consists of insipid herbs, mostly succulent and natives of 

 America, of which one is a prominent well-known weed in Michigan. 



Fig. 80 (72). 



Purselane. Pussley. Portulaca olcracea L. Smooth, prostrate, spreading, succulent, extending 

 in each direction, 10-30 cm.; leaves thick, alternate, clustered at the ends of the branches, obovate, 

 6-20 mm. long; flowers yellow, opening in sunshine for a short time in the morning. Native in the 

 southwest. Introduced into the warmer portions of Europe. 



