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Portulaca villosa

Cham. (1831)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-CoreEudicot Order: Caryophyllales Family: Portulacaceae Genus: Portulaca

‘ihi [ihi]

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Perennial herbs.

Stems: Stems prostrate to weakly ascending, up to ca. 3 dm long.

Roots: Taproot fleshy, tuberous, but becoming woody.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate or opposite. Blades narrowly oblanceolate to linear, subterete, 5–25 mm long, 1.5–3 mm wide. Surfaces pale grayish green, upper ones occasionally involucrate around the flowers, succulent, tuft of hairs in the axil. Margins entire. Sessile, dense tuft of yellowish brown hairs (1–)3–12 mm long in the axil. Stipules 2, connate basally.

Flowers: Flowers usually 3–6 in dense, terminal, head-like cymes subtended by dense tufts of hairs 6–12 mm long and a series of involucrate leaves. bracteoles ca. 1.4–1.5 mm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect) or rarely unisexual, actinomorphic or rarely slightly irregular, sessile or subsessile. Calyx of 2 sepals; sepals imbricate, persistent, 4–5 mm long, margins scarious. Corolla of 4–6(–8), white, pink, or pink with a white base, obovate, 8–10 mm long, distinct or connate at base, imbricate, apex emarginate. Stamens 18–50; filaments usually puberulent; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary partly inferior, 2–3(–9)-carpellate, soon becoming 1-celled; ovules numerous, placentation free-central; styles 2–9, 5–7(8)–branched.

Fruit: Capsules membranous; broadly ovoid; 3–5 mm long; the walls thin; ca. 0.05 mm thick; circumscissile near base up to ⅓ from base. Seeds dark reddish brown; 0.6–0.7 mm long; the surface stellulate–rugulose.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Occurring on dry; rocky; clay; lava; or coral line reef sites.

Elevation Range: 0–300(–490) m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

PROPAGATION/CULTIVATION

  • The fruits of Portulaca villosa are 1/8 inch oval capsules and are filled with dark reddish brown seeds. The capsules split open when ripe. To collect seeds, place mature unopened fruit in a container such as a paper bag and allow them to open naturally.
  • Sow the seeds on the surface of a pre-moistened, sterile, well draining mix. Do not cover the seeds with planting mix. (Bornhorst 1996; Wagner 1990)
  • Portulaca villosa is easy to grow from tip cuttings. Rooting hormones and mist systems are not necessary. Cuttings should be 2 to 5 inches long and the lower leaves should be removed. Sterile potting mix can be used as a rooting medium. The cuttings should be watered daily. They will root in a couple of weeks. (Bornhorst 1996) [Data from Herring, E. C., & Criley, R. A. (2003). The Hawaiian Native Plant Propagation Web Site: Developing a Webbased Information Resource. HortTechnology, 13(3), 545-548. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawnprop/]

Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

Ka'ula Endemic
O'ahu Extirpated
Molokai Endemic
Lana'i Endemic
Kaho'olawe Extirpated
Maui Endemic
Hawai'i Endemic
Nihoa Endemic

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Linnaea 6: 565 (1831)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1074 (N, O, Mo, L, M, Ka, H); Wood & LeGrande 2006:27 (Le?†, 1932, [reported by Caum but no spm.]); Caum 5 BISH (Kl†, 1932); Matt Keir pers. comm. 2025/Castillo s.n. BISH 745551 (O†, 1995); Hank Oppenheimer pers. obs./Munro s.n. BISH 63902 (L†, 1927); Hank Oppenheimer pers. obs./Perlman 12606 PTBG (Ka†, 1992); Note: Kl added, based on BISH spm. (E.L. Caum 5, 17.viii.1932)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details On yellow arid clay especially among rocks on slopes near sea Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 10914 Hawaii BISH 1929-09-16
2 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In alluvial deposits between rocks. Preserved_Specimen Medeiros, A.C. 594 Maui BISH 1983-11-20
3 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details All over island Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. 66 Nihoa BISH 1923-06-18
4 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details in cultivation; [site of original collection?] at 1000 ft on dry cinders; rare. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 26902 Maui BISH 1977-10-20
5 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details in cultivation; [site of original collection?] at 1000 ft on dry cinders; rare. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 26902 Maui BISH 1977-10-20
6 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Along crest near road. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Oahu BISH 1977-12-13
7 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Prostrate on shallow basalt gravel, sea spray swept. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 25390 Hawaii BISH 1954-12-21
8 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Summit, on bare wind-swept soil. Colony of 12± plants. Preserved_Specimen Egler, F.E. 37411 Oahu BISH 1937-05-04
9 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Arid flats near ocean. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 21979 Maui BISH 1952-02-27
10 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details On rocky slopes in crevice. Preserved_Specimen Long, C.R. 2414 Nihoa BISH 1964-09-23
11 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details On aa lava, in pockets of soil. Preserved_Specimen Lane, I.E. 49552 Hawaii BISH 1949-12-26
12 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details On yellow arid clay especially among rocks on slopes near sea Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 10914 Hawaii BISH 1929-09-16
13 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details All over island Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. 66 Nihoa BISH 1923-06-18
14 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details On rocky shore, growing in Pahala ash. Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. 944 Hawaii BISH 1937-08-26
15 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Prostrate on shallow basalt gravel, sea spray swept. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 25390 Hawaii BISH 1954-12-21
16 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Thin soil on basalt Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 14070 Oahu BISH 1937-06-13
17 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details All over island Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. 66 Nihoa BISH 1923-06-18
18 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Coral rock with thin soil Preserved_Specimen Egler, F.E. 3778 Oahu BISH 1937-06-13
19 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details In shallow soil pocket in exposed rock. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 1207 Nihoa BISH 1968-08-26
20 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Dry pasture lands. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, V.O. 38 Hawaii BISH 1936-08-08
21 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Among earth & rocks within range of ocean spray. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 19302 Maui BISH 1948-12-23
22 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details On rocky shore, growing in Pahala ash. Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. 944 Hawaii BISH 1937-08-26
23 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Coral rock with thin soil Preserved_Specimen Egler, F.E. 3778 Oahu BISH 1937-06-13
24 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 2 Molokai BISH 1910-03-01
25 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Davis, J. 54 Maui BISH 1978-07-03
26 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1761 Oahu BISH 1912-01-01
27 Portulaca villosa South Point Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 10914 Hawaii BISH 1929-09-16
28 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Lamoureux, C.H. 4067 Oahu BISH 1967-08-10
29 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Stone, B.C. 2870 Hawaii BISH 1959-06-01
30 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, W.N. 5778 Hawaii BISH 1989-05-01
31 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Wysong, M.L. 600 Molokai BISH 2005-02-06
32 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. 66 Nihoa BISH 1923-06-18
33 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. 5 Kaula Rock BISH 1932-08-17
34 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 26939 Maui BISH 1979-12-26
35 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Lyon, H.L. 1001 Oahu BISH 1904-10-06
36 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. 340 Lanai BISH 1864-01-01
37 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2455 Oahu BISH 1917-04-05
38 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 3 Molokai BISH
39 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. Lanai BISH 1927-07-09
40 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Yen, D.E. 1003 Nihoa BISH 1969-05-01
41 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Meinecke, W.H. Hawaii BISH 1960-05-14
42 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Oahu BISH 1910-08-21
43 Portulaca villosa NW Hawaiian Islands Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. 66 Nihoa BISH 1923-06-18
44 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Yen, D.E. 1003 Nihoa BISH 1969-05-01
45 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Yen, D.E. 1003 Nihoa BISH 1969-05-01
46 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 232 Lanai BISH 1915-03-01
47 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Palmer, H. 10 Maui BISH 1925-08-13
48 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1909 Maui BISH 1920-03-09
49 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 112207 Lanai BISH 1913-11-05
50 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 676 Molokai BISH 1919-07-22
51 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2344 Oahu BISH 1916-03-14
52 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 409 Lanai BISH 1915-03-01
53 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Castillo, M. Oahu BISH 1995-04-20
54 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 6549 Nihoa BISH 1980-07-27
55 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. 340 Maui BISH 1864-01-01
56 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 207 Lanai BISH 1913-11-05
57 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Skottsberg, C.J.F. 1891 Hawaii BISH 1926-09-20
58 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Maui BISH 1913-02-10
59 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Herbarium Experiment Station, HSPA Oahu BISH 1910-08-10
60 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Kahoolawe BISH 1913-02-10
61 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH
62 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Rogers, D.P. Hawaii BISH 1946-12-27
63 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Molokai BISH 1909-01-01
64 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen Hillebrand, W.B. Maui BISH
65 Portulaca villosa Locality redacted. Contact Bishop Museum Botany Department for details Preserved_Specimen BISH
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