talinum fruticosum

• staple
• 
• 
• wiki
• products
  • leave
• how to distinguish
• food : talinum fruticosum is a perennial, succulent, herbaceous shrub characterized by erect, smooth, fleshy stems, glossy green elliptic to spatulate leaves, small star-shaped pink flowers in loose cymes, and small round capsules containing shiny black seeds.

• properties:

  • roots: fleshy, fibrous, moderately deep
  • leaves: edible, succulent, mucilaginous, nutrient-rich
  • flowers: small, pink, star-shaped, ornamental
  • fruits: globular capsules containing seeds
  • seeds: small, shiny, black, nutrient-rich

• environment:

  • thrives best in consistently warm and moist tropical to subtropical climates, requiring fertile and well-drained soils

  • climate:

    • optimal in tropical and subtropical environments; sensitive to frost
    • Sun: 600–900 w/m² (partial to full sun)
    • No Sun Days: 10
    • Water: 800–1800 mm yearly rains
    • No Water Days: 14
    • Humidity: 60–80%
    • Fog Resistance: 20
    • Max Temp: 40
    • Optimal Temp: 25–32
    • Min Temp: 10
    • Wind Damage: “strong”, “storm”

  • soil:

    • fertile, well-drained loamy soils rich in organic matter
    • Soil Ph: 5.5–7.5

• spacing:

  • recommended spacing 20–40 cm between plants, suitable for garden beds and borders
  • good-neighbors: abelmoschus esculentus , ocimum tenuiflorum, allium
  • bad-neighbors: mentha, cymbopogon
  • max-height: 80
  • max-spread: 50

• lifecycle:

  • longevity: 4 years
  • germination: germinates rapidly in 7–14 days under warm conditions (24–28°C), in moist, loose soils
  • seedling: seedlings grow quickly, forming established plants with fleshy foliage within 4–6 weeks
  • mature: matures within 60–80 days, continuously producing edible leaves, flowers, and seeds regularly
  • death: plant typically declines and dies after 3–4 years or earlier if exposed to prolonged cold or drought
• features: edible leaves, drought-tolerant, fast-growing, high nutritional value, succulent
  • layer: herbaceous layer, shrub layer, understory
  • products: salad, medicinal extracts, ornamental flowers, seeds

• chemical compounds

  • compound	plant part	amount (approx.)	notes
    mucilage	leaves	3–5% fresh weight	digestion aid, moisture retention
    flavonoids	leaves	2–4 mg/g dry weight	quercetin, kaempferol; antioxidants
    flavonoids	flowers	1–3 mg/g dry weight	pigmentation and antioxidant activity
    [[vitamin c	ascorbic acid]]	leaves	40–60 mg/100g fresh weight
    β-carotene	leaves	3500–4500 IU/100g fresh weight	vitamin a precursor; supports vision and growth
    calcium	leaves	120–200 mg/100g fresh weight	cellular structure and signaling
    iron	leaves	3–5 mg/100g fresh weight	chlorophyll formation, metabolic function
    antioxidants	leaves	5–8 µmol TE/g fresh weight	combats oxidative stress
    saponins	roots	trace (<1%)	antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory potential
    alkaloids	roots	trace (<0.5%)	potential bioactive properties
    alkaloids	fruits	trace (<0.5%)	potential bioactive properties
    fatty acids	fruits	2–4% dry weight	linoleic acid and oleic acid
    essential fatty acids	seeds	15–25% dry weight	omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
    proteins	seeds	12–18% dry weight	essential amino acids
    phenolic compounds	flowers	0.5–1.5 mg/g dry weight	ferulic acid , caffeic acid ; antioxidant
    phytosterols	leaves	present	campesterol, sitosterol; brassinosteroid (growth hormones)
    terpenoids	leaves	present	plant defense and growth regulators

  • operations:

    • propagation: propagated easily by seed or stem cuttings, stem cuttings root readily in moist soil or water within 7–10 days
    • maintenance: minimal maintenance; regular watering during dry periods, occasional fertilization with organic compost improves leaf yield
    • harvest: leaves harvested regularly once plants mature, ideally picking younger leaves for culinary uses and medicinal extracts, flowers harvested occasionally for ornamental purposes or extracts