Purslane

Native American Names

There are no Native names at all that were found for this plant.  Portulaca oleracea is the scientific name for Purslane.

Habitat

Purslane is an annual herb. It was introduced to the United States from Southern Europe. It is a grass like plant. It flowers and fruits from, June until July in less hot regions and from June until April in hotter regions. The leaves are often in clusters at the ends of the branches, thickened, and broad round tips. It grows through well cultivated areas and is sometimes a pest in vegetable crops.

Location

Purslane can be found all over the East coast of the United States, it is really abundant in the Northeastern and less common in the Pacific Northwest. I see Purslane on the reservation around sidewalks, street corners, and on the side of the roadsides. Purslane has a strong root the makes it able to withstand poor, compacted soils. I would have expected to find it in large areas of green grass, but I found it growing around poor soils.

Uses

The Iroquois used it as an antidote to cure you if someone has given you bad medicine. Another drug the Iroquois used was the poultice of a mashed plant applied to burns. The Navajo used the plant for pains in the body or common muscle aches, they also ate meat or animal bones with green chilies. The Hopi cooked it in gravy with all the same ingredients as the Navajo's. The Navajo's also used the plant as a lotion for "Scarlet Fever" and ate the seeds for food too. A San Felipe food which is the young leaves or plants were fried or boiled and mixed with peas. A Western drug, Keres, was an infusion of the leaf stems and used as an antiseptic wash for blood clots. The Cherokee used the juice for common earaches. Another Iroquois drug is a Dermatological aid for bruises. One of the recipes are Mexican Omelets with Purslane, which contains 2 cups of chopped Purslane, 2 tbsp. of olive oil, 1 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice, 1 tbsp. of salt and ground pepper, 3 garlic cloves and 2 tbsp. of cilantro or mint.

Description

Common purslane emerges from a heavy taproot, to develop succulent, smooth, fleshy, stems that are usually purple-red and may root at lower nodes. These many branched stems reach up to 24 inches long and grow in a prostrate fashion to form mats. It reproduces thorugh seeds.

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