Portulaca pilosa
Portulaca pilosa is a species of flowering succulent plant in the purslane family, Portulacaceae, which is native to the Americas. Its common names include pink purslane, kiss-me-quick and hairy pigweed. Its range extends from the southern United States and the Caribbean to as far south as Brazil.
It is a succulent plant with linear leaves and pink flowers.
Description
The name is derived from pilose, which means to be covered with long soft hairs. Portulaca pilosa is a highly variable species. It exhibits morphological variability during its development. The immature plants have wider, longer and flatter leaves than its mature counterparts. Leaves of mature plants are narrower, shorter and more hemispheric in cross section.Physical differences are observed due to variable habitat types this species can be found in. Plants that grow in an arid environment tend to have the greatest density of hairs. Plants that grow in a moist environment tend to have less hairs. Plants with very dense hair under a certain condition will produce fewer hair growth under a moist condition, showing growth variability. The plant habit is also governed by its habitat. Plants growing in moist, warm environments tend to branch quickly into a spreading habit, with an erect secondary growth. Plants in dry and cool environments are the opposite, they grow erect first and then branch more slowly. This type has a more compact habit.
Specimens from Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and New Mexico exhibit all morphologic conditions. Those from Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma usually tend to occur in shallow, sandy soils, often on rocky outcrops, and are often highly branched, compact, short, and not very pilose.
Distribution
Portulaca pilosa is a pantropical species which according to some sources is native to the Americas, and according to others to Asia or even to both. In the Americas P. pilosa can be found in Mexico, West indies, Central America, and as far south in South America as Brazil; and in the United States, they are typically concentrated in the southern parts such as Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Mississippi among other states. P. pilosa is a documented invasive species throughout the Hawaiian Islands, the Galapagos Islands, New Caledonia, and Christmas Island. In Hawaii, P. pilosa is officially documented from the coastline to dry lava flows at over 610 m in elevation yet can be found up to nearly 1,800 m in the Pohakuloa Saddle region.In Cuba, portulaca pilosa is commonly called "Diez de la Mañana", i.e. the 10 a.m. flower. In other Latin countries, it is known as "Flor Diez del Día."