tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926520536076141805.post1705311401106408635..comments2023-12-08T18:28:11.330+10:00Comments on Australian Portulaca: Some Surprises in Portulaca oleraceaGrey_Gumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01318944992661031958noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926520536076141805.post-54946104540717956302019-01-05T12:46:17.916+10:002019-01-05T12:46:17.916+10:00A DISCLAIMER and a kindly word to those intending ...A DISCLAIMER and a kindly word to those intending to leave comments.<br /><br />The comments section is moderated which means I get to pick and choose which posts get published and which do not.<br /><br />I sometimes receive comments related to summer-active weeds. Although most of these comments have been genuine inquiries, a few have unfortunately been snide in their intent. I generally just delete any ill-informed remarks like the following example: "So you grow weeds in your garden?".<br /><br />I also will not reply to requests like "How can I get rid of this plant out of my lawn?". I am sorry but I do not offer advice on the control of weeds.<br /><br />The definition of a weed is often a very subjective thing. In my experience, the weedy Portulaca species almost always prefer bare ground. Some of the species are summer "pioneer" species that take rapid advantage of a lack of competition brought about by bare earth. So if your lawn is infested with one of these species it more than likely means you have bigger problems than just pig weed. Portulaca seldom do very well if there is any kind of competition from lawn grasses or other plants that shade them out. So your problem, if it could really be called that, is most likely related to drought or grubs/fungus killing patches out of your lawn. So rather than blame the weed that you think is taking you over, you may need to take a closer look at your horticultural practices. If you use a whipper snipper or mow without a catcher for instance well you are just going to throw the seeds about and scatter them far and wide.<br /><br />You can spray the weeds, but that will only defeat the purpose by opening up the ground even more. It will let in more light and reduce competition, so by spraying all you do is put yourself back to square one. Also most chemical sprays result in negative effects like drift and are not very successful on succulent weeds like Portulaca in any case. The plants die slowly and can still set seed and occasionally the wilted branches will recover, take root and re-grow. Nevertheless there are chemicals which offer good control and I can only advise that people see their local chemical supplier, hardware store, or Department of Agriculture for advice on the most appropriate chemical to use in your situation.<br /><br />Most Australian farmers know the scourge of Portulaca oleracea only too well. I know from experience that it can be a nuisance plant that covers entire ploughed paddocks in summer, particularly those left fallow due to an absence of rainfall. And if you do get rainfall it reproduces and grows extremely quickly. By the time the paddock has dried out enough for you to get a tractor in there, the pigweed has well and truly taken over. It can form such massive beds that I have seen it clog farm implements repeatedly, meaning a lot of down time for farmers who have to stop and clear the great mass of tangled strands off their ploughs.<br /><br />But if people read these pages carefully, they should see that it is mainly taxonomic and horticultural in its approach. So providing advice on weed control is outside the scope of this blog and therefore not really relevant. If people wish to examine this subject in more depth I am sure there are plenty of websites on the internet that deal exclusively with weeds and can provide the answers that you seek.Grey_Gumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318944992661031958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926520536076141805.post-60969688351639391552013-01-26T15:54:35.322+10:002013-01-26T15:54:35.322+10:00At this stage I can't say whether the red '...At this stage I can't say whether the red 'jelly bean'leaved plant was in saline environment or not. Will explore my notes and get back to you if I have helpful information.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08680282265338637303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926520536076141805.post-3187069450712484532013-01-26T11:15:24.350+10:002013-01-26T11:15:24.350+10:00I have just received an email (thanks Martin!) poi...I have just received an email (thanks Martin!) pointing out that the blisters on the stems of the salt-adapted plant are salt blisters. They are a strategy that the plant has adopted to contain the excess salt. The leaf glands serve a similar function, but rather than contain the salt their function is to "bleed" it out and away from the sensitive leaf tissues. Many other halophytic plants have adopted these morphological features to process the excess salt in their environment, such as Philotheca sporadica, some Lepidium spp., Sesuvium portulacastrum, Sarcocornia spp., Dysphania spp., Atriplex spp., to name but a few. Grey_Gumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318944992661031958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926520536076141805.post-51630750656220476492013-01-26T09:54:40.110+10:002013-01-26T09:54:40.110+10:00Hi Attila, Thank you for your positive comments, a...Hi Attila, Thank you for your positive comments, and for the assistance you provided with photos and for taking the time to answer every one of my email questions. Much of the credit here goes to your excellent photos, without which I would have been struggling to explain some of the variations. A picture is, as they say, really worth a thousand words. One question I forgot to ask you... Was the bright red one with "jelly bean" leaves found in a saline or non-saline habitat?Grey_Gumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318944992661031958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3926520536076141805.post-3370293993736132952013-01-26T09:37:46.788+10:002013-01-26T09:37:46.788+10:00I failed leaving a comment yesterday - so I'll...I failed leaving a comment yesterday - so I'll try again! <br />You certainly are covering Portulaca oleracea with a more deserving overview than it just being 'an insignificant weed'. you've shown great diversity and analysis which can only lead to a greater appreciation of our desert flora. <br />Great work! Attila Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08680282265338637303noreply@blogger.com