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products
plants/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
plant/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