Purslane is a very prolific seeder. The seeds of Portulaca oleracea are about the size of a poppy seed and can easily lodge in sidewalk cracks. This combination of traits results in purslane taking over areas that other plants will take longer to conquer. It is a true weed in that it needs to take advantage of such territories because other, more hardy and aggressive, weeds will crowd it out easily simply by outgrowing it. The pictures in this sequence were all taken in the alley behind the CVS at the corner of Washington and South 11th Street, illustrated at the end of the page, on the morning of July 19th, 2017.

All of the above pictures were taken in the encircled spot of shade illustrated above.