Foothills. Fields, lawns, disturbed areas. Summer.
Near Yellow Jacket Canyon, August 25, 2005.

Purslane spreads prolifically in gardens, lawns, and open sandy soils.  It is an alien species and is very successful at rooting from just the smallest piece of root or leaf.  Leaves and stems are often purple/red.

Linnaeus named this genus in 1753 giving it an old Latin name, now of unknown meaning.  "Oleracea" is Latin for "vegetables", referring to this plant's common use as a salad green.

Foothills. Fields, lawns, disturbed areas. Summer.
Near Yellow Jacket Canyon, August 25, 2005.

Foothills. Fields, lawns, disturbed areas. Summer.
Prater Ridge Trail, Mesa Verde National Park, August 13, 2005.