Porcupine root
Talinum caffrum

Family: Talinaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows about 45 cm tall. It has a deeply buried tuber with annual stems. The leaves are 6 cm long and somewhat fleshy. The flowers are in groups of 1-3 in the axils of leaves. The petals are rich yellow. They are 2 cm long. The seeds are shiny and black. They are in a round capsule.

There are about 50 Talinum species. They grow in warm places. Also put in the family Portulacaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dry rocky soil. It grows between sea level and 2,750 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. It is drought resistant because of its tuber.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are picked while freshly growing and boiled and eaten with relish and salt. They are also eaten raw as a salad.

It is a minor vegetable in drier areas.

Edible parts

Leaves, stems, vegetable

How it is grown

The leaves are preserved by drying. A tuber can be 0.5 kg.

Its other names

Local names

Acwe gweno, Fasi, Impunyu, Keller-athla, Kgalahete, Khasi, Khalahete, Khutsana, Mlelamvula, Nakatukwa, Ondindina, Osbossie, Ystervarkwortel

Synonyms

Portulacca caffra Thunb.; Claytonia caffra (Thunb.) Kuntze; Talinum esculentum Dinter & Schellenb.; Talinum minus Eckl. & Zeyh.;