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Re: Taxonomy of Verbena and Portulaca

I do not have answers to all your questions but the following may help.

The portulaca is probably a strain of Purslane, Portulaca oleracea.
Mexicans do refer to it as 'verdolaga' and it is edible. There is a form of
P. oleracea known as Wildfire. I don't know what yours is like but this one
has fat leaves and brilliant but small flowers in many colors (red, yellow,
orange or pink). It is a trailing plant. Does that sound similar to yours?

The verbena is more difficult. There is a V. pulchella gracilior that has
very finely cut leaves and pink or magenta flowers. What colors do yours
have? Are they really ground-hugging or do they get up to 6 inches or so?
If the former I might suggest they are forms of V. peruviana. This is a
plant that does well here and withstands great heat. I am not familiar with
the 'Tapien' variety.

 >Can anyone help with correct names? Almost the most popular perennials in
>Mallorca are known as Verbena repens and Portulaca repens. The Verbena is
>not the usual bedding Verbena  'Novalis', 'Garden Party', Sandy' etc nor is
>the Portulaca, that sunloving, large flowered semi-succulent in brilliant
>colours 'Sundial' 'Calypso' 'Minilaca'  etc.
>	The Verbena has filigree foliage, is low growing, spreading and
>comes in
>half a dozen not very bright colours. Might these be, at least in part
>'Tapien'. We propagate them from cuttings and never have had it drawn to
>our notice that they are a Registered variety though I see from a catalogue
>that 'Tapien' are.
>	The Portulaca has the same spreading form, oval, slightly succulent
>leaves
>and also comes in half a dozen colours which are prettily pastel.
>	The Verbena has been available in the trade for at least half a dozen
>years  though popular only in the last five.
>	The Portulacca has only been a major crop in the last three or four.
>	I am told that the local name for the Portulaca is "Verdolaga" and
>that it
>is eaten as a cooking herb. This would make I suppose a select variety of
>P. oleracea.

Andrew
San Diego, California
awilson@fda.net
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