Jf. Matthews et al., THE BIOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF THE PORTULACA-OLERACEA L (PORTULACACEAE) COMPLEX IN NORTH-AMERICA, Rhodora, 95(882), 1993, pp. 166-183
Portulaca oleracea L. is a polyploid, cosmopolitan weed with a broad p
hysiological adaptability. It is morphologically variable, grows rapid
ly, is self-compatible producing large numbers of seeds that have a lo
ng survivability. The variability is expressed in a series of local po
pulations that exhibit clinal variation geographically. Data obtained
from the literature on the biology of the species are compared to prev
ious taxonomic interpretations in order to develop a more functional t
axonomic treatment of this polymorphic species.