Talinum paniculatum
(Jacq.) Gaertn.
Jewels of Opar, Flameflower
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(c) 汪嘓嘓, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by 汪嘓嘓
no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子
What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Vegetable
The leaves and stems are blanched and used in salads, or cooked in soups. It is cultivated as a minor commercial vegetable.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. It can grow from sea level up to 2,200 m above sea level. It is best in well-drained moist soil rich in organic matter. It suits hardiness zones 9-10.
Africa, Amazon, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador*, El Salvador, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, Indochina, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesser Antilles*, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America*, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Swaziland, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobago, Tropical America*, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies*,
How to Identify
A herb. It can grow each year from seed or keep growing from year to year. It is 30-100 cm tall. The root is thick. The stems are erect and fleshy. The base is nearly woody. The leaves are alternate or almost opposite. The leaf blade is oval to sword shaped and 5-10 cm long by 2.5-5 cm wide. The base is almost wedge shaped and it tapers to a short tip with a sharp point. The flower panicle is large and at the tip or near the end. It has a long stalk. The flowers are purple-red. The flowering stalk is round in cross section.
Nutrition Score: 22/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | 94 | 64 | 15 | 1.2 | — | 0 | 4.7 | 0.3 |
| Leaves | 90.9 | — | — | 2.8 | — | — | 1.5 | — |
How to Grow
Plants can be grown by stem cuttings. They can also be grown by seeds. Seeds are sown in light shade and seedlings appear in one week. They can be put in a nursery and transplanted. Removing flowers extends the time of leaf production.
Propagation: Seed - sow in situ or in a lightly shaded position in a nursery seedbed. Germination takes place within 7 days and young plants should be planted out within another 5 weeks. Cuttings are taken from slightly woody stems, from which tops and leaves are removed. They require ample watering.
Medicinal Uses
Talinum paniculatum is often grown as an ornamental plant. Cultivars include 'Kingwood Gold', 'Limón', and 'Variegatum'. The leaves are edible and have been used in traditional medicine in Asia. Used in home medicine as a diuretic, healing, emollient, vulval and anti-infective, it is also consumed in salads.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Talinum paniculatum is a succulent subshrub in the family Talinaceae that is native to much of North and South America, and the Caribbean countries. It is commonly known as fameflower, Jewels-of-Opar (a name borrowed from the title of the novel Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs), or pink baby's-breath.
Production
Young shoots are picked when the plants are 30 cm tall.
Other Information
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is a minor vegetable.
Notes
There are about 50 Talinum species. They grow in warm places. It is used in medicine. Also put in the family Portulacaceae. Presumably in a hot house in Slovenia.
Names & Synonyms
Allanu pu'fintsumi, Ameflower, Armo porteno, Caa ruru kyra, Carne gorda, Caruru, Fameflower, Major-gomes, Mata callos, Negrito aguachoso, Palo de rosa, Pasto del monte, Tu ren shen, Varataisi, Verdolaga camba, Verdolaga francesa
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