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Portulaca oleracea f. sativa (Haw.) Alef.
Landw. Fl. 111 1866
Family: PORTULACACEAE

Accepted Scientific Name: Portulaca oleracea subs. sativa (Haw.) ?elak.
Prodr. Fl. Böhmen 484 1875 ?elak.

Synonyms:

See all synonyms of Portulaca oleracea

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Portulaca oleracea group

Portulaca oleracea is a polyploid complex, with diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid forms (2n = 18, 36, 54). Danin et al. (1978) divided the complex into seven subspecies on the basis of seed size and patterning, relating these to different ploidy levels: subsp. oleracea, subsp. impolita Danin & H. G. Baker, subsp. granulatostellulata Danin & H. G. Baker, subsp. nicaraguensis Danin & H. G. Baker, subsp. nitida Danin & H. G. Baker, subsp. papillatostellulata Danin & H. G. Baker, and subsp. stellata Danin & H. G. Baker. The subspecies are not geographically separated, and even within the same flora area it is possible to recognise several of these seed types, which sometimes grow together. P. oleracea (purslane) has been used as a vegetable since ancient times. The cultivated form, subsp. sativa (Haw.) Celak, distinguished by larger seeds over 1 mm long, is probably a selection from subspecies oleracea.


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