Family: Portulacaceae

Portulaca pilosa (hairy pigweed, kiss-me-quick) is a succulent native to the Americas.  Some people in Brazil have used the species of Portulaca pilosa as a traditional remedy to help with reducing fever, and relieving pain. Research has found that extracts from this plant can affect the kidneys. It is reported to be widely naturalized, including on the islands of Hawaiʻi, Maui, Molokai, Kahoʻolawe Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, Niʻihau, Lehua and Kaʻula. Portulaca pilosa can pollinate itself (is self fertile), and takes less than 2 months to mature and produce seeds. One plant can churn out almost 300,000 seeds every year. This species has a high drought tolerance, a testament to its hardiness. You’ll usually find it popping up in places where the soil has been disturbed, and in dry coastal areas like dunes and rocky shores. It tends to outcompete native plants, even those that are endemic or endangered, which is especially problematic in Hawaiʻi. It can easily be confused with ‘ākulikuli (Sesuvium portulacastrum) a sprawling perennial herb that grows in coastal areas and also bears small purple flowers. However ‘ākulikuli is native and this plant is not. 

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Naturalized and able to spread in tropical climates
  
• Widely naturalized, including all main Hawaiian Islands
  
• A lawn, disturbance, and environmental weed and a threat to native plants in the Hawaiian Islands
  
• Other Portulaca species are invasive
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by stem fragments
  
• Self-compatible
  
• Reaches maturity in one growing season
  
• Seeds dispersed internally by birds and livestock
  
• Seeds dispersed externally by vehicles, animals, and water
  
• Prolific seed production under certain conditions
  
• Seeds may persist for up to two years
  
• Tolerates browsing, cutting and other damage

Low Risk Traits:

• May be primarily a weed of disturbed habitats
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Provides fodder for livestock
  
• Requires full sun to flower
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control