This succulent edible weed is cosmopolitan, but largely restricted in Ky. to trampled roadsides or pavements; also, it is rare to absent from sandy or acid soils in Appalachian regions (K). Portulacca is poorly represented in herbaria, because it resists drying when fresh and generally rots within plant presses. Freezing, then frequent changing of blotters, is an effective method (Whitson et al. 2009). P. oleracea is often stated to have an Asian origin, but there are several varieties, subspecies or closely related species with different original ranges across both Hemispheres of the World; 2n = 18, 36, 54 (Byrne & McAndrews 1975, Matthews et al. 1993; FNA 4; W). Seeds of Portulaca have been determined from pre-Columbian archaeological sites in n. Ky. (Henderson 1998). In earlier floras of northeastern states, there were statements for oleracea such as "seemingly indigenous westw. and southwestw." (Robinson & Fernald 1908). Variation in flower color and potential hydridization deserve deeper investigation; occasional plants in Ky. appear to have pink-purple flowers, as opposed to the yellow generally reported for oleracea. P. retusa Engelm. and P. neglecta MacKenz. & Bush are robust potential segregates, with more stamens (7-19 versus 6-10) and more sharply tuberculate seeds; they may be native to "rich bottomlands" of Mo., Ark. and further west in the Great Plains (F, Cr). The more distinct southern species, P. pilosa L., and P. amilis Speg. may also be expected in the state (Ch, K; M. Whitson, pers. comm.); these have pink-purple flowers.