The genus Portulaca has a mainly pantropical distribution, while some African and New World species are subtropical and a few occur in Australia, Europe and Asia. Portulaca is composed of herbs usually with alternate leaves, bearing long, usually conspicuous, axillary trichomes, and with flowers composed of 2 sepals and 4-5 petals free at the base, numerous stamens and an inferior ovary. In Brazil 13 species are recognized and each taxa is characterized morphologically, with taxonomic notes and illustrations.
Floristic inventory; descriptions; illustrations; Brazilian species
