Common purslane

Scientific name: Portulaca oleracea
Synonym: Purslane



Photo courtesy of Dr. James Altland
Oregon State University

Habitat

Warm and moist soils

Affected crops

Rice, corn, cotton, crucifers, potato, tomato, and many other agricultural crops

Distribution

Worldwide

Description

The stem is fleshy, smooth, branched, and purplish-red or green with reddish coloration. The leaves are thick, smooth and fleshy, and green to reddish in color. They have broad-rounded tips with smooth margins. The flowers are yellow, found solo at the leaf axils and clustered at the end of the branches. A single plant can produce as much as 10,000 seeds.

Effects and impacts

Common purslane serves as an alternate host for various plant diseases and nematodes. Its ability to produce plenty of seeds can result in the easy colonization of your farm. It forms a dense mat that prevents seedlings from germinating, and competes for soil moisture and nutrients. It can reduce yield from 20-40%, depending on the crops.

It is used as vegetables and also for medicinal purposes. It is also used as hogs' feed. The seeds are made into flour and are a source of blue dye.

Studies show that the weed is found to be resistant to Atrazine and Linuron in some carrot fields in Michigan, USA (Weeds Science, 2005).

Methods of control

1. Proper soil tillage or thorough land preparation by plowing and harrowing at least two times.
2. Hand weeding.
3. Regular plant monitoring.
4. Crop rotation with sorghum. Sorghum has the ability to reduce the emergence or growth of pigweeds (Kebede, 2004, p.3).
5. Mulching at least 3 inches thick prevent the seeds from germinating.

External links

• Weed Science. Multiple resistant common purslane. http://www.weedscience.org/Case/Case.asp?ResistID=378
• University of Massachusetts. Weed herbarium: Common purslane. http://www.umassgreeninfo.org/fact_sheets/weed_herbarium/pages/porol.html

References

• Bingaman, B.; Christians, N. (1995): Greenhouse screening of corn gluten meal as a natural control product for broadleaf and grass weeds. Hortscience 30 (6): pp. 1256-1259.
• CABI. (2001): Crop protection compendium. Global module, 3rd edition. CAB International Publishing. Wallingford, UK.
• Kebede, Z. (2004): Allelopathic chemicals: Their potential uses for weed control in agroecosystems. Department of Weed Biology and Weed Science. Fort Collins, Colorado.
• Moody, K.; Munroe, C.; Lubigan, R.; Paller , E. (1984): Major weeds of the Philippines. University of the Philippines, Los Baños. Laguna, Philippines.
• Webber, C. III; Shrefler, J. (2005): Corn gluten meal application methods for weed control. Proceedings of the 24th Annual Horticulture Industries Show. pp. 163-167.