Japanese name: スベリヒユ（滑莧） Scientific name:Portulaca oleracea
[Overview]
A succulent annual found along sunny roadsides and in fields.
The stem is cylindrical, tinged with red, and branched; the base creeps along the ground, and the upper part stands up and extends to about 15–30 cm in length.
The leaves are simple and alternate, oblong-obovate, 1.5–2.5 cm long, with entire margins and no hairs in the leaf axils.
Small yellow flowers with 5 petals are borne a few at a time at the stem tips.
The fruit is a pyxis; when ripe the lid comes off and black seeds emerge.
[Uses]
The whole plant is used medicinally, and it is also boiled and eaten as ohitashi (boiled greens served with a dressing).
