Portulacaceae 

Common names: Purslane, garden purslain (English); pourpier, pourcellaine (French); Portulak (German); porcellana, portulaca (Italian); hamqā` (Arabic), other vernacular names: khalīqa, barbir, b‘ale, rikhla, baqla hamqā

Description

Annual herb, glabrous, prostrate, 10-50 cm. Stems thick and succulent. Leaves opposite, sessile, obovate-oblong, 1-2 cm. Flowers yellow, solitary or 2.

Flowering

February-September.

Habitat

Cultivated or watered areas.

Distribution

Cosmopolitan. It is not a plant from the badia in the strict sense, but it can be found on the borders.

Use

In the badia: Al-Khatīb: ulcer (together with Teucrium polium)

Field data: not mentioned.

In literature: constipation (whole plant), demulcent, diuretic (leaves and seeds); laxative, dental caries (juice), diuretic, anthelmintic (cooked plant), sedative (flowers); nervous tonic; emollient (internal and external), fevers, diabetes. Its use as forage has not been scientifically investigated.

Palatability and importance as forage

Grazed by livestock only in case of drought

Chemical Data

Calcium, iron and potassium salts; malic, citric and oxalic acids; alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, anthraquinone glycosides; mucilage.

References

Bedevian, A. K. 1936. Illustrated Polyglottic Dictionary of Plant names. Cairo, Argus D Papazian Presses.

Ozenda, P. 1991. Flore et végétation du Sahara. Paris, Ed. du CNRS.

Edited by: F. Guiso Gallisai
Information taken from: Sincich, F. 2002. Bedouin Traditional Medicine in the Syrian Steppe. Rome, FAO. 114-115.

All pictures and drawings belong to the author.

The presentation of material in this profile do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and has been taken from interviews with the traditional Bedouin doctor, Al-Khatīb and from data collected directly from Bedouins informants