Abstract
Portulaca badamica, and P. lakshminarasimhaniana, from Bagalkot district, (Karnataka State, India), are described as new species for Science. P. badamica is an annual, slender and sparsely branched herb usually with cleistogamous flowers, while P. lakshminarasimhaniana is woody, perennial, subshrub with pinkish red coloured flowers, capsules with elongated hemispherical operculum and seeds with peculiar metallic shine. P. badamica is morphologically similar to P. pilosa from which differs in having annual, slender, sparsely branched, erect habit, usually cleistogamous yellow flowers,3–4 fid style, 8–12 stamens, bluish seeds with stellulate flat cells without central elevations. P. lakshminarasimhaniana is similar to P. suffrutescens but differs from it by its non-tuberous root, stem scabrous with scaly bark, dark pink to red flowers, 8–15 stamens, strictly 4 fid style and oblong capsules.