Common purslane is a highly nutrient comestible and medicinal plant that readily uprise in most domain . While known as a weed that may annoy some gardener , the purslane plant life is one you ’ll grow to lie with . Even purslane flush are edible , along with their leaves and seminal fluid . Make friends with unwashed purslane , and before you know it you ’ll be do all of the purslane recipes putting this plant to good use !
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Wildcrafting Weeds
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About Common Purslane
Purslane ( Portulaca oleracea ) , also known as common purslane , is an extremely common industrial plant that grows about everywhere . It ’s likely you ’ve seen it spring up in sidewalk go or volunteering its red-faced stems and succulent - comparable leaves in the garden .
make out as a weed by most nurseryman , common purslane is a flora that everyone should grow to love and love to grow ! Purslane is a extremely nourishing comestible and medicinal plant . It ’s a felicitous sight whenever I see some in my railyard !
The full purslane plant is functional , include purslane flowers , stem turn , leaves , and even seeds . calculate on the region , purslane can be found develop wild and ready in the spring , summertime , and come down .
Related:13 former Spring Edible Wild William Green
Where to Find Common Purslane
Common purslane grows almost everywhere in the world . It ’s likely been underfoot , seen in driveway cracks , or parking lots throughout your life .
While seemingly able to get in the harshest circumstances like wry , gravelly , sandy , misfortunate dirty areas , purslane is a champion of survival and resurgence , coming back each year without prompt .
Purslane plants prefer full sun and tend to grow in gardens , lawns , champaign , disturbed areas , and pavement cracks . Do n’t undervalue purslane weed , it has as many benefits as it is well-situated to grow !
Related:12 Edible and Medicinal Weeds to Forage in Your Backyard
How to Identify Purslane
Common purslane grows depleted to the primer , with trail strings of typical thick and reddish - emblazon root word . It ’s a ground cover that readily reseed itself each class .
Purslane has small yellow flower blooms that are only overt in the dawn . The plant is safe to eat disregarding of where it is in the flowering degree , blooming from mid - summer through early fall .
One major identifying factor of purslane grass is its leave of absence . They are succulent , fleshy , and boat paddle - shape with smooth surface and boundary .
Harvesting Common Purslane
Harvest young purslane leave alone throughout the develop season , with or without flowers .
great handfuls of purslane weed can be sheer with scissors grip using the “ haircut method acting , ” leaving the roots intact .
Be sure to harvest from an area that has n’t been spray with chemicals . This is specially authoritative with a plant like common purslane since it develop so prevalently and is seen as a pain in the neck . A great way to be sure is to harvest and eat purslane right from your backyard !
Purslane Look-Alikes
Common purslane can depend similar to poisonous plant life in the spurge family ( Euphorbia spp ) , in particular hairy stemmed spurge ( Euphorbia vermiculata ) and spotted spurge ( Euphorbia maculata ) .
These plants are toxic and are not for consumption , so it is crucial to be careful in their identification .
The skilful way to narrate the difference between spurge and purslane plants is that spurge all have atoxic milky sapthat exudes when you check the stem . If you are diffident if it is purslane , wear a prow and look for whitish white sap .
While spurge has a similar growth habit as purslane , the leaf are usually humble with thin , woody stanch . Spurge has more regular - case leaves that are thin and flexible , whereas coarse purslane has succulent - type leaves .
Hairy stemmed spurge plants are the most confused with purslane , as they can look quite a minute alike . Aside from the milky sap , they have another major difference . Hairy stemmed spurge has ahairy fore , which is not the type for purslane .
Edible Uses of Common Purslane
Purslane is a nutritious and delicious edible green that is eminent in vitamin , minerals , and omega-3 fatty superman . In fact , it is one of the good veg sources of omega-3 fatty acids !
All part of the purslane plant life are edible include the foliage , halt , flowers , and seeds . All variety of purslane are eatable and nutrient .
Purslane foliage and stem are edible both raw and cooked . They are an excellent add-on to salads or smoothies . The leaves provide a pasty quality that make them estimable to thicken soup and stews .
Purslane bloom are also comestible . Use as an comestible garnish , cast aside in a purslane salad , or contrive mightily into the blender with asmoothie .
Some of my favorite purslane recipes to make arepickled purslane , purslane relish , or simplesteamed purslane . As common purslane has grown so much in popularity and can even be found at James Leonard Farmer ’s grocery store digest these day , I am certain there are more purslane recipes out there to try !
Medicinal Uses and Benefits of Purslane
Purslane is a succulent flora and has medicative quality similar to aloe orchickweed .
Use common purslane outwardly as a plaster for cuts and burn . Simply fracture open a purslane foliage and rub it on the moved area just like you would with aloe .
Purslane has wonderful antibacterial properties and is helpful for strengthening the resistant system . habituate it internally as a Camellia sinensis to aid with digestive issues , and for relieving colds and bronchitis . This is a very simple method to harvest purslane benefits !
Grow to Love Purslane Weed
Common purslane is a strong sovereign plant life that necessitate very small care in the way of survival . I incur these types of “ weeds ” to be the most inspiring plants as I ’ve learn and grown through foraging .
With so many nutritious qualities , medicative benefits , and how incredibly easy it is to receive , the purslane plant life is a true gem of a pot !
Keep your eye peeled as you take the air along your driveway or through your garden . Really anywhere at your feet , you ’re certain to find some purslane innocently growing . It survive and thrives without a care in the humankind !
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