Purslane sex and the city

Common purslane, known to scientists as Portulaca oleracea, is not just big in Japan .

By some counts, it’s the eighth most widely distributed plant in the world.

The study shows that the urban population is evolving to almost exclusively self-pollinate.

Urban purslane thrives in full sun and warm temperatures in paved-over spots.

Pollinating hoverflies are rare in Antwerp , Belgium , and Asiatic dayflowers in Osaka , Japan , grow reproductive parts that are physically closer together.

Populations that self-pollinate for generations will likely have less genetic diversity, Fujita says.