I am fairly certain that mom and I have identified the annoying weed that is growing in every one's garden space. The spidery, branching-out weed has been getting on our nerves... but what the heck is it?
Well, after some research today, we found out that there are actually two plants that look very similar, and grow very close together. In fact, both these plants were growing in my garden space, just inches apart. The first (top and third pictures) are called "Spurge" or "Milky Purslane" and are NOT edible.
The other, "Purslane" (pictures two and four) is edible, and very nutritious. It is rich in vitamins C and E, along with protein, beta carotene, and Omega-3 fatty acids.
The differences are easy to see up close up-- the purslane leaves are rounder, fatter, and more succulent like a jade plant, and the spurge plants are more pointed, and may have a purple-red spot in them. The leaf pattern is also different-- on the spurge, the leaves grow across from each other.
The easiest way to tell the difference between the two as far as I'm concerned is to break them open. The spurge oozes out a white milky substance, and the purslane does not-- the inside looks more clear.
Please, please, please make sure you positively identify any plants you might try to munch on before putting it in your mouth-- don't just take my word for it!
And if you do try the purslane, let me know how it is... according to everything I've read, it's one of the tastiest weeds you can forage for!
holy moly you guys, only one week until the challenge! I am so excited for you.
ReplyDeleteI know, right!?! It's coming up so quickly!!!
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ReplyDeleteOk, the 2nd and 3rd pictures are most defin. spurge. spurge crawls more, leaks white sap when you break the stem and has a much thinner stem than purslane. Spurge may also get some reddish tint on occaision in the center of its leaf. Purslane does not.
ReplyDeleteThe 1st and last picture look more like purslane. Purslane it a bit more upright, the stem is thicker and when you snap the stem there is no white sap.
Both of these grow in my yard and I have eaten purslane. Once you see them together they are very easy to tell apart.
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ReplyDeleteI am now quite confident in identify Purslane and Spurge in my backyard. However, two more similar planes still puzzles me. I hope some people here can help me to identify them.
ReplyDeletePurslane in my backyard:
[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/839/img5490n.jpg/]
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Unidentified purslane-like weed #1:
[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/828/img5495d.jpg/]
[IMG]http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/828/img5495d.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Unidentified Weed #2:
[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/713/img5494g.jpg/][IMG]http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/6002/img5494g.jpg[/IMG][/URL]