Portulaca suffrutescens, the shrubby purslane, also called copper purslane, is a plant species native to the southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico. It has been found in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Sonora, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Querétaro and Guerrero.Flora of North America Portulaca suffrutescensLegrand, C. D. 1962. Las especies americanas de Portulaca. Anales Museo Nacional Montevideo, ser. 2, 7(3): 1–147, lám. I–XXIX.SEINet, Southwestern Biodiversity, Arizona chapter
Portulaca suffrutescens is a perennial with tuberous roots. Stems are stiff, erect, up to 30 cm (12 inches) tall. Leaves are needle-like, round in cross-section, up to 3 cm (1.2 inches) long. Flowers are orange, copper or bronze, up to 25 mm (1 inch) across. Seeds are black with a row of small bumps along one side.photo of syntype of Portulaca suffrutescens at Missouri Botanical GardenEngelmann, Georg. 1881. Botanical Gazette 6(7): 236.Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson.Shreve, F. & I. L. Wiggins. 1964. Vegetation and Flora of the Sonoran Desert. Stanford University Press, Stanford.Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers
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