Home > Plants > Portulacaceae > Portulaca sclerocarpa

Created 12/27/2013

Family Portulacaceae

HAWAII - ENDEMIC

Portulaca sclerocarpa   


P. villosa (L)


Cultivated, Waimanalo, Oahu

KILAUEA PORTULACA     'IHI MAKOLE, PO'E

Rare near steam vents on the flanks of Kilauea volcano; also found on Po'opo'o Islet , South Lana'i.  Seed capsules distinctively shell-like and difficult to open, compared to papery capsules in Portulaca villosa.  Vulnerable to extinction due to small population size.  I suspect it may hybridize with non-native Portulaca pilosa abundant at the Kilauea site.  Endemic to the Island of Hawaii & Lana'i.

http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Portulaca+sclerocarpa