In new seedlings, or thin lawns, purslane can become one of the most troublesome annuals. Like many desert plants, it has the ability to store moisture for great lengths of time. It thrives in extremely hot, dry weather. The sprawling stems of purslane are thich, round, fleshy and reddish-brown in color. Leaves are bright, shiny green, wedge-shaped, rubbery and thick. Purslane has tiny yellow flowers with five petals. These flowers seldom open unless the sun is shining brightly. The cup-shaped seed pods produce an abundance of small black seeds. These seeds may lie dormant in the soil for many years.