Portulaca umbraticola – Wingpod Purslane

Portulaca umbraticola - Wingpod Purslane, Crownpod Purslane (flower)

Portulaca umbraticola - Wingpod Purslane, Crownpod Purslane (winged seed capsules)

Plant Name

Scientific Name: Portulaca umbraticola

Common Names: Wingpod Purslane, Crownpod Purslane

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual

Growth Habit: Herb/Forb

Arizona Native Status: Native

Habitat: Desert (upper elevation), Upland, Riparian

Flower Color: Orange and yellow, Red and yellow, Hot pink and yellow, Solid yellow

Flowering Season: Summer. This plant blooms after the summer monsoon rains have begun.

Height: To 10 inches (25 cm) tall

Description: The flowers are 2/3 inch (1.5 cm) across and have 5 rounded petals with yellow at their base. The flowers are followed by lidded seed capsules that are encircled by crown-like, pale green, translucent, membranaceous wings. The leaves are green, succulent, and linear to spatulate in shape. The stems are fleshy, hairless, often reddish in color, and prostrate, ascending, or erect. The roots are fibrous.

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Caryophyllidae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Portulacaceae – Purslane family
Genus: Portulaca L. – purslane
Species: Portulaca umbraticola Kunth – wingpod purslane

More About This Plant

Arizona County Distribution Map