Purslane Seeds

Purselane is an annual plant belonging to the Purseline family and is native to India and the Middle East. The rising form of purslane is used as a vegetable in Asia, Suriname and in Europe (only in the Netherlands).

In Iran the vegetable has been eaten for more than 2000 years. There are also cultivars with large flowers for the ornamental garden.

Characteristics

Purslane grows 5 to 50 cm high and has scattered, standing, fleshy leaves. The wild purslane has lying, smooth, reddish stems and the cultivated ascending. Purslane forms a taproot. The plant flowers in the Netherlands in the wild from June to autumn with yellow 12mm large flowers. The flowers bloom in the morning for only a few hours. The fruit is a versatile box fruit that opens with a lid. The black purslane seeds are edible.

The medicinal effect of purslane

Purslane also has a medicinal effect. In Greece it was a popular medicine. They used it for blockages and inflammations of the urinary tract. It also has a fever-reducing effect. Postelein also relieves stomach acid burning.