Native to Europe. The Purslane is generally eaten as a salad herb, but it has medicinal qualities as well. It is a source of the same nutritive principles available in cod-liver oil, without the fishy smell. It was highly regarded as an anti-scurvy herb by the Puritans, due to its high vitamin content. A poultice of the entire plant, well mashed, may be applied to sore eyes.
Seed germinates readily in warm soils.
Likes deep watering several times per week. I find it growing where the water puddles up in the hot sun, then drains completely and dries until it cracks. Plant 1 foot apart. Grows a few inches high.