talinum fruticosum

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• 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
ascorbic acid	leaves	40–60 mg/100g fresh weight	antioxidant; hormone biosynthesis cofactor
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