Portulaca ERUCA

Portulaca ERUCA - Bristly Purslane, Portulaca eruca, Dandur.

Rare caudiciform plant!

Portulaca is a genus of perennial plants in the Purslane family (Portulacaceae), often cultivated as annuals. The genus name comes from the Latin "portula" - "little door" - due to the fruits opening under little light. The native home of the crop is South America.

The genus is represented by herbaceous plants whose height varies from 10 to 30 cm (3.9 to 11.8 in). The fusiform root system is very branched, which is why the flower spreads rapidly across the area. Stems are mostly creeping, succulent and thick, brownish in color. The shoots are branched, and green ovate leaf blades are densely arranged on them.

The flowers are distinguished by varied coloration, can be double or simple, and the diameter of buds can reach 7 cm (2.8 in).

Bristly purslane is a perennial plant with erect shoots reaching a length of 10-12 cm (3.9-4.7 in). The specific epithet "eruca" translates from Latin as "caterpillar" or "hairs" - a slight fringe of long white hairs is present on the stems. The leaves are curled, green in color, 5-7 mm (0.20-0.28 in) long, distinguished by the presence of short spurs. The flowers are large, reaching 2.5 cm (1.0 in) in diameter. Petals are colored in a bright purple shade, and the center is filled with numerous stamens bearing orange pollen. Seeds are small, black in color, maturing in fruits measuring approximately 3-5 mm (0.12-0.20 in).

Seeds are sown on the surface in loose substrate, moistened from a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in light, but not in sun, at a temperature of 20-25 °C (68-77 °F). Seedlings need ventilation. It is necessary to avoid waterlogging and drying out of sowings.

Seedlings appear after 5-14 days. Young sprouts are pricked out into individual containers and grown under dry conditions, providing minimal watering. When planting into open ground, the distance between plants should remain 10-15 cm (3.9-5.9 in).

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Purslane in open ground requires simple care. The crop loves sunny areas; it will not flower even in minimal shade. Poor, even rocky soil with an alkaline reaction is suitable. On nutrient-rich soil with high acidity, the plant suffers from fungal diseases.

It is important for the crop to provide regular watering, especially during dry periods and when grown in containers, but waterlogging is not permitted. Loosening and weeding are not required because the crop spreads in a continuous carpet and prevents other weeds from germinating.

There is no need for fertilizing. An excess of mineral nutrients, especially nitrogen, leads to heavy vegetative growth - as a result, one might never see flowers.