Portulaca johnii

Poellnitz

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves

The leaves are eaten.

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

TOXIC

Spotted Spurge

Euphorbia maculata

SAFE

Portulaca johnii

Spotted Spurge: Milky white latex sap when broken, thinner leaves often with dark spot, prostrate growth, tiny flowers.

Portulaca johnii: Clear sap, thick succulent leaves, reddish smooth stems, yellow flowers.

A tropical plant. It is common on all atolls.

French Polynesia, Kiribati, Pacific, Tuamotu,

Countries: Australia, Fiji, Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Samoa

A tropical herb in the Portulacaceae family with edible leaves. It is common on all atolls.

There are about 200 Portulaca species. They are mostly in the tropics and subtropics.

References (2)

Barrau, J., 1976, Subsistence Agriculture in Polynesia and Micronesia. Bernice P. Bishop Museu, Bulletin 223 Honolulu Hawaii. Kraus reprint. p 58
Massal, E. and Barrau, J., 1973, Food Plants of the South Sea Islands. SPC Technical Paper No 94. Nounea, New Caledonia. p 35