Wild Portulaca

Portulaca oleracea

Wild portulaca (Portulaca oleracea) is a fleshly annual weed that has a prostrate habit, spreading out to 30 cm wide. Commonly known as purslane, it has characteristic reddish stems with yellow flowers. It is frost sensitive so it only grows in the summer and prefers sunny open situations. It is common in the upper North Island and more occasionally further southwards.

Related Pests

Annual Poa

Poa annua

Annual poa (Poa annua), also known as annual meadow grass, is a fast growing annual grass found throughout New Zealand in a wide range of crops. While individual plants tend to be small, populations of this grass weed tend to be large and they then compete for light, nutrients and water. Poa annua is best identified by the boat shaped tips to its leaves and the two parallel veins (often referred to as tramlines) that can be seen if the leaf blade is bent backwards. Germination takes place throughout the year and is set very quickly meaning populations soon increase.

Fumitory

Fumaria muralis

Fumitory (Fumaria muralis) is a weak-stemmed scrambling and climbing annual weed with purple/pink tubular flowers. It is common throughout New Zealand and is a significant weed of crops (especially cereals) as it can smother crops if not controlled.

Sow Thistle

Sonchus oleraceus

Sow thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) - or puha - is common throughout New Zealand in crops, gardens and waste areas. It is an annual that starts as a rosette that develops a tall, leafy and succulent stem with yellow flowers up to 1 m tall. The leaves are often collected and cooked as a vegetable (puha) in New Zealand.