Silk-Cotton Purslane
EN

Silk-Cotton Purslane

Portulaca halimoides

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_halimoides

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Silk-Cotton Purslane faces severe population decline primarily due to coastal development and tourism infrastructure expansion across its limited range in the Galápagos Islands. Rising sea levels and increased storm surge intensity threaten its specialized coastal habitat, while invasive plant species compete for the sandy and rocky shoreline areas where it naturally occurs. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances and habitat modification.

Threat summary

Habitat

Silk-Cotton Purslane is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, where it inhabits coastal zones including sandy beaches, rocky shorelines, and salt-tolerant vegetation areas near the ocean. The species thrives in the transition zones between marine and terrestrial environments, typically growing in well-drained sandy or rocky substrates with high salt exposure.

Other threatened species in Portulacaceae

CR

Portulaca cubensis

Unknown
Pia di PalombaCR

Pia di Palomba

Portulaca elatior

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Cuban purslaneEN

Cuban purslane

Portulaca biloba

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Silk-Cotton Purslane classified as Endangered?
Silk-Cotton Purslane is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Silk-Cotton Purslane faces severe population decline primarily due to coastal development and tourism infrastructure expansion across its limited range in the Galápagos Islands. Rising sea levels and increased storm surge intensity threaten its specialized coastal habitat, while invasive plant species compete for the sandy and rocky shoreline areas where it naturally occurs. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances and habitat modification.
Where does Silk-Cotton Purslane live?
Silk-Cotton Purslane occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Silk-Cotton Purslane?
The main threats to Silk-Cotton Purslane are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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