Common Name:

General Information

Talinum paniculatum is an erect, herbaceous, perennial plant producing mainly unbranched stems up to 1 metre tall from a tuberous rootstock[]. The stems sometimes become softly woody.
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for its edible leaves, which are used locally. The plant is also cultivated in tropical W Africa, Cuba and SE Asia as a vegetable, in Thailand for its medicinal uses and in various parts of the tropics as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, the Guyanas; Caribbean; C. America - Panama to Mexico, southern N. America.

Habitat

Moist or wet fields or thickets, often in waste ground, sometimes in cultivated fields; usually at low elevations, but ascending to 2,400 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in full sun, but plants are tolerant of some shade[]. Prefers a well-drained, moist soil rich in organic matter[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
The plant has become a pantropical weed, and is still extending its range[].
A first harvest can be taken about 6 weeks after planting cuttings, or 8 - 9 weeks after sowing the seed[].
Young shoots are picked when the plants are 30cm tall and leaves are fully developed[].
Inflorescences should be removed regularly[].
Although plants remain productive longer, they are often removed after one year as they become woody[].
The growing plants are found only during the rainy season, the stems withering when the rains cease[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[, ]. A sharp flavour[]. They are blanched and used in green salads or cooked in soups and stews[, ].

Medicinal

A decoction of the roots is used as a surrogate aphrodisiac[].
The roots possess tonic properties and are used in treating neurasthenia, cough, gastralgia and pulmonary tuberculosis[]. They are also used to treat dehydrating diarrhoea[].

A bouillon made from the fresh leaves is used as a stomachic[]..

The roots, collected in autumn, are well washed, sliced, impregnated with ginger juice and sugar solution, then steam283

Title

Medicinal Plants in Vietnam

Publication

 

Author

Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu

Publisher

World Health Organisation

Year

1989

ISBN

92 9061 101 4

Description

An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.