Portulacaceae

Portulacaceae is a large family of flowering plants, known as the purslane family. The family includes about 20 genera with about 500 species, ranging from herbaceous plants to shrubs. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, with the highest diversity in semi-arid regions of the Southern Hemisphere in Africa, Australia, and South America, but with a few species also extending north into the Arctic.

Description

Members of the Portulacaceae are annual or perennial plants. They are succulent xerophytes and have a cosmopolitan distribution, with the highest diversity in semi-arid regions of the Southern Hemisphere in Africa, Australia, and South America, but with a few species also extending north into the Arctic.

Taxonomy

The Portulacaceae family was first described by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in 1789. The name of the family comes from the type genus Portulaca.

Genera

The Portulacaceae family includes about 20 genera. Some of the most well-known genera include Portulaca, Claytonia, and Lewisia.

Uses

Many species are used as ornamental plants, and some are also cultivated for their edible leaves.

See also

• List of Portulacaceae genera
• Portulaca oleracea
• Portulaca grandiflora

References

Portulacaceae Resources
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