Jewels of Opar, Flameflower
Talinum paniculatum
Family: Talinaceae
What it is like
A herb. It can grow each year from seed or keep growing from year to year. It is 30-100 cm tall. The root is thick. The stems are erect and fleshy. The base is nearly woody. The leaves are alternate or almost opposite. The leaf blade is oval to sword shaped and 5-10 cm long by 2.5-5 cm wide. The base is almost wedge shaped and it tapers to a short tip with a sharp point. The flower panicle is large and at the tip or near the end. It has a long stalk. The flowers are purple-red. The flowering stalk is round in cross section.
There are about 50 Talinum species. They grow in warm places. It is used in medicine. Also put in the family Portulacaceae. Presumably in a hot house in Slovenia.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It can grow from sea level up to 2,200 m above sea level. It is best in well-drained moist soil rich in organic matter. It suits hardiness zones 9-10.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Amazon, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador (country/location of origin), El Salvador, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, Indochina, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesser Antilles (country/location of origin), Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America (country/location of origin), Sri Lanka, St Helena, Swaziland, Thailand, Trinidad-Tobago, Tropical America (country/location of origin), Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The leaves and stems are blanched and used in salads. They can be cooked in soups.
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is a minor vegetable.
Edible parts
Leaves, vegetable
How it is grown
Plants can be grown by stem cuttings. They can also be grown by seeds. Seeds are sown in light shade and seedlings appear in one week. They can be put in a nursery and transplanted. Removing flowers extends the time of leaf production.
Young shoots are picked when the plants are 30 cm tall.
Its other names
Local names
Allanu pu'fintsumi, Ameflower, Armo porteno, Caa ruru kyra, Carne gorda, Caruru, Fameflower, Major-gomes, Mata callos, Negrito aguachoso, Palo de rosa, Pasto del monte, Tu ren shen, Varataisi, Verdolaga camba, Verdolaga francesa
Synonyms
Portulaca paniculata Jacquin; Portulaca patens Linnaeus; Talinum patens (Linnaeus) Wildenow; and others