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The "Amami-matsuba-botan" (Portulaca okinawensis var. amamiensis) belongs to Portulacaceae (the Purslane family). It is an evergreen perennial herb that is endemic to Amami Oshima, Kakeroma Island, Ukejima, Yoroshima, and Tokunoshima in Japan's Amami Islands. It grows on sunny rocky shores and reaches a height of 5 to 10 cm. The pale green stems crawl along the ground, and the base becomes woody. The leaves are elliptical, fleshy, and arranged alternately. From August to September, it produces lemon-colored flowers at the tips of its stems. It is classified as Vulnerable (VU) in the Ministry of the Environment's Red List.
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