Purslane | n. [ OF. porcelaine, pourcelaine (cf. It. porcellana), corrupted fr. L. porcilaca for portulaca. ] (Bot.) An annual plant (Portulaca oleracea), with fleshy, succulent, obovate leaves, sometimes used as a pot herb and for salads, garnishing, and pickling. [ 1913 Webster ] Flowering purslane, or Great flowered purslane, the Portulaca grandiflora. See Portulaca. -- Purslane tree, a South African shrub (Portulacaria Afra) with many small opposite fleshy obovate leaves. -- Sea purslane, a seashore plant (Arenaria peploides) with crowded opposite fleshy leaves. -- Water purslane, an aquatic plant (Ludwiqia palustris) but slightly resembling purslane. [ 1913 Webster ]
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