portulaca

American  

[pawr-chuh-lak-uh, pohr-] / ˌpɔr tʃəˈlæk ə, ˌpoʊr- /

noun

1. any of various fleshy-leaved plants of the genus Portulaca, especially P. grandiflora, widely cultivated for its showy, variously colored flowers.

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portulaca British  

/ -ˈleɪkə, ˌpɔːtjʊˈlækə /

noun

1. any portulacaceous plant of the genus Portulaca, such as rose moss and purslane, of tropical and subtropical America, having yellow, pink, or purple showy flowers

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Etymology

Origin of portulaca

1540–50; < New Latin, genus name, Latin: purslane

Example Sentences

"Portulaca Brown, an Anglo-Indian, is dissatisfied with her lot," she wrote.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2015

"The heroine will be named Portulaca Brown, an Anglo-Indian," she wrote.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2015

A pea-plant, with ternate leaves, and fine yellow blossoms, was found near our camp: Portulaca was very abundant.

From Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia : from Moreton Bay to Port Essington, a distance of upwards of 3000 miles, during the years 1844-1845 by Leichhardt, Ludwig

We again enjoyed some fine messes of Portulaca.

From Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia : from Moreton Bay to Port Essington, a distance of upwards of 3000 miles, during the years 1844-1845 by Leichhardt, Ludwig

Heat, and plenty of it, is what Portulaca craves, backyards agree with it, also dry banks, and even seashore sand if there is a foothold of loam beneath.

From The Garden, You, and I by Wright, Mabel Osgood