Chickenweed
Portulaca quadrifida L.
Portulaca quadrifida L., a species in the Portulacaceae family, is a flowering plant native to Africa but widely distributed across the Old World tropics. It is known by several common names, including chickenweed, and is used as food for both humans and animals. The species was first published in 1767.
Description
Portulaca quadrifida is a member of the genus Portulaca and is part of the Portulacaceae family. It is found in regions including TW, ZA, CU, KM, SG, IN, MG, TL, and various other locations in Africa and beyond. The plant is collected in the wild for consumption in salads or as cooked food and is also used as fodder for chickens and pigs. The species has been subject to taxonomic discussion, with earlier type designations being ineffective due to publication timing, but it has since been validated. The name was first described by Linnaeus in 1767.
Other common names
Chickenweedchickenweed purslanewild purslane
Distribution
TW · ZA · CU · KM · SG · IN · MG · TL · Kalahari Gemsbok National Park · Kruger National Park · Rongelap Atoll · Andaman Is. · Angola · Assam · Bangladesh · Benin · Borneo · Botswana · Burkina · Cameroon · Cape Provinces · Caroline Is. · Central African Repu · Chad · China South-Central · China Southeast · Comoros · Congo · Cuba · Djibouti
Synonyms
Meridiana quadrifidaMeridiana ellipticaPortulaca meridianaPortulaca walterianaPortulaca quadrifida var. formosanaPortulaca formosanaPortulaca microphylla