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purslane

(pʉrs′lin, -lān′)

noun

any of various prostrate weeds (genus Portulaca) of the purslane family, with pink, fleshy stems and small, yellow, short-lived flowers; esp., an annual (P. oleracea) sometimes used as a potherb and in salads

Origin: ME purcelane < MFr porcelaine < LL porcilaca, purslane, altered < L portulaca: see portulaca

adjective

designating a family (Portulacaceae, order Caryophyllales) of dicotyledonous plants, including claytonia and portulaca

See purslane in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A trailing Asian weed (Portulaca oleracea) having small yellow flowers, reddish stems, and fleshy obovate leaves that are sometimes cooked as a vegetable or used in salads.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Anglo-Norman *purcelane

Origin: , alteration of Latin portulāca, porcilāca; see portulaca

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