Portulaca nicaraguensis (Danin & H.G. Baker) Danin. Common name: Neotropical Purslane. Phenology: Jan-Dec. Habitat: Mangroves, salt flats, also disturbed areas. Distribution: FL (and maybe other); West Indies; Mexico and Central America; now also more widespread from anthropogenic spread.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: While the best taxonomic treatment of the P. oleracea complex remains uncertain and controversial, it seems clear that P. nicaraguensis should be separated from P. oleracea and at specific rank, based on ploidy (2x P. nicaraguensis vs. 6x P. oleracea), phylogeny, morphology, clear nativity in the Neotropics, and primary occurrence in natural habitats, based on work of Danin & Anderson (1986), Ocampo & Columbus (2012), and Walter, Vekslyarska, & Dobeš (2015).
Synonymy ⓘ: = Walter, Vekslyarska, & Dobeš (2015); = Portulaca oleracea L. ssp. nicaraguensis Danin & H.G.Baker — Danin, Baker, & Baker (1978); < Portulaca oleracea L. — Fl5, FNA4, K4, Mex, S, S13, WH3, Matthews & Levins (1985a), Matthews, Ketron, & Zane (1993). Basionym: Portulaca oleracea L. ssp. nicaraguensis Danin & H.G.Baker 1979
Links to other floras: < Portulaca oleracea - FNA4
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Great Plains: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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Horticultural Information
No horticultural data found for this taxon.