products
plants/food : talinum paniculatum is a perennial, erect succulent herbaceous plant with smooth, fleshy branching stems, glossy succulent elliptic leaves, small pink star-shaped flowers in loose panicles, and round capsules containing tiny black seeds.
properties
roots: fibrous, moderately fleshy, shallow-rooted
- compounds: saponins, alkaloids (trace amounts)
leaves: succulent, edible, elliptic to spatulate, glossy green
- compounds: vitamin a, ascorbic acid, vitamin e; calcium, iron, magnesium; flavonoids, phenolic acids, mucilage, carotenoids
flowers: small, pink, star-shaped, arranged in airy panicles
- compounds: flavonoids, phenolic compounds
fruits: small round capsules with numerous tiny black seeds
- compounds: fatty acids, alkaloids, antioxidants
seeds: tiny, shiny, black
- compounds: essential fatty acids, proteins
environment:
- grows optimally in warm, humid conditions with fertile, well-drained soils under partial to full sun
-
climate:
- prefers tropical and subtropical climates; sensitive to frost
- sun:: 600–900 W/m²
- no-sun-days:: 10
- water:: 800–1500 mm yearly rains
- no-water-days:: 14
- humidity:: 60–80%
- fog-resistance:: 15
- max-temp:: 40
- optimal-temp:: 24–32
- min-temp:: 8
- wind-damage:: strong, storm
-
soil:
- thrives in fertile, well-drained loamy or sandy-loam soils rich in organic matter
- soil-ph:: 5.5–7.5
- soil-type:: loamy, sandy-loam, clay-loam
-
spacing:
- optimal spacing is 20–30 cm between plants for proper air circulation and growth
- good-neighbors: ocimum, allium
- bad-neighbors: mentha, cymbopogon
- max-height: 100
- max-spread: 60
lifecycle
- longevity: 4 years
- germination: seeds germinate quickly within 7–14 days under warm (22–28°C), moist conditions
- seedling: seedlings rapidly establish succulent foliage within 4–6 weeks after germination, requiring regular watering
- mature: plants mature and produce flowers within 60–90 days, continually yielding edible leaves and seeds throughout growing season
- death: gradually declines after 3–4 years or earlier under unfavorable conditions such as frost or prolonged drought
plant/features: salad, ornamental flowers, succulent, drought tolerant, fast-growing, medicinal
layer: herbaceous layer, understory, shrub layer
products: salad, ornamental flowers, medicinal extracts, seeds
chemical compounds
| compound name | plant part | class | reported activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| phytol | stem | prenol lipid | anti-inflammatory, antioxidant |
| beta-sitosterol | stem | phytosterol | cholesterol-lowering, anti-inflammatory |
| beta-sitosterol | root | phytosterol | cholesterol-lowering, anti-inflammatory |
| stigmasterol | stem | phytosterol | antioxidant, anti-inflammatory |
| stigmasterol | root | phytosterol | antioxidant, anti-inflammatory |
| cycloergostanol acetate derivative | leaf | steroid derivative | potential anticancer, anti-inflammatory |
| dibutyldimethylurea | root | urea derivative | antimicrobial |
| phytol | leaf | diterpenoid | antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer |
| oleic acid | stem | fatty acid | anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular health |
| ethyl palmitate | stem | fatty acid ester | antimicrobial |
| phytol | stem | diterpenoid | antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer |
| vinylguaiacol | leaf | phenolic compound | antioxidant, antimicrobial |
| syringol | leaf | phenolic compound | antioxidant, antimicrobial |
| eugenol | leaf | phenolic compound | antioxidant, antimicrobial, analgesic |
| phytol acetate | stem | diterpenoid ester | antioxidant, antimicrobial |
operations
propagation: easily propagated by seeds or stem cuttings; cuttings root readily in moist soil or water within 7–10 days
maintenance: minimal care required; regular watering during drought, occasional organic fertilization enhances foliage and flower production
harvest: regularly harvest young edible leaves for consumption; flowers harvested for ornamental use or medicinal extracts; seeds harvested when capsules mature and dry