Purslane describes an entire family of plants also called Portulacaceae. This family includes more than 500 species of plants and includes Common Purslane and Golden Purslane, which can be grown as edible plants but are also considered weeds.
History
Purslane was and still is used by cooks around the world. The ancient Greeks made flour from the seeds, and contemporary Mexican cooks serve purslane with pork and eggs.
Warning
Purslane is considered an invasive weed by many gardeners. It is an annual plant and can reproduce both from seeds and from pieces of stem.
Seeds
The seeds of purslane can remain viable for as long as 40 years, which makes this plant particularly hard to eradicate if viewed as a weed. When grown in the edible garden, the flower heads should be pinched off before going to seed to keep the plant from spreading.
Types
For edible gardening, the two most common types of purslane are Golden Purslane and Green Purslane.
Significance
Purslane is high in vitamin C and carotene and is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Tags: from seeds, Golden Purslane, grown edible, plants also