Portulaca kermesina, firstly described by Poellnitz in 1941, is a slender, erect annual herb or short-lived perennial, branching above the base with narrow, sharply acute, succulent leaves usually terminal.
The flowers are bright carmine in colour terminal, often more than 5 together, opening towards mid-morning. They are encircled by long spreading involucral leaves, and the stamen number varying from 10–25. The seed is metallic-grey or silvery. This species of the purslane family presents several morphological or local forms.