Talinum portulacifolium (Forssk.) Asch. ex Schweinf.

Protologue

Bull. Herb. Boiss. 4, app. 2: 172 (1896).

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Family

Portulacaceae

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Chromosome number

2n = 24

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Synonyms

Talinum cuneifolium (Vahl) Willd. (1800).

Vernacular names

Origin and geographic distribution

Talinum portulacifolium occurs from Nigeria east to Ethiopia and Eritrea, and south to northern South Africa; it also occurs in Arabia and India. In Africa it is occasionally cultivated.

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Uses

The leaves of Talinum portulacifolium are eaten as a cooked vegetable or raw as a salad, alone or with young stem parts. In Tanzania leafy stem parts are often cooked together with Bidens or Cleome leaves, or mixed with coconut milk or pounded groundnuts and eaten with the staple food. The leaves can also be stored dry for later use. The plant is a palatable fodder for cattle and goats. In Ethiopia the leaves are applied medicinally against eye diseases and the root against cough and gonorrhoea. In Tanzania the plant is credited with aphrodisiac properties and a leaf decoction is used as a remedy for constipation.

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Properties

The nutritional composition of Talinum portulacifolium leaves is not known, but probably it is comparable to Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd.

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Botany

Perennial herb with grey, succulent stems up to 1(–3) m long, sprouting from a thickened root. Leaves alternate, simple, slightly fleshy; petiole 2–3 mm long; blade broadly obovate to oblong, 2–8 cm × 1–3.5 cm, base cuneate, apex rounded but apiculate, margin entire. Inflorescence a terminal panicle with lateral cymes on a central axis up to 30 cm long. Flowers bisexual, regular, opening towards the evening, 2–2.5 cm in diameter; pedicel 1–2 cm long, recurving in fruit; sepals 2, ovate, 4–5.5 mm long, concave; petals 5, obovate, usually magenta, sometimes red, pink or white; stamens c. 25; ovary superior, style slender, c. 1.5 mm long, ending in a 3-branched stigma. Fruit a globose capsule up to 7 mm in diameter, bright yellow, 3-valved, the valves falling separately, many-seeded. Seeds lens-shaped, c. 1 mm in diameter, glossy black, smooth or papillose.
Talinum comprises about 40 species, most of them found in Mexico and the southern United States, and 7 species in tropical Africa. Talinum portulacifolium is sometimes confused with Talinum triangulare, which is also used as a vegetable. The latter species differs in its pink flowers arranged in cymes on triangular stalks, sepals prominently 3-veined and tuberculate seeds.

Description

Other botanical information

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Growth and development

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Ecology

Talinum portulacifolium is common in a wide range of habitats, from rocky locations to grassland, in open bushland and thickets, along water courses and as a weed in fields, from sea-level up to 2200 m altitude.

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Propagation and planting

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Management

Talinum portulacifolium is mostly collected from the wild and only occasionally cultivated. Propagation is by seed and cuttings.

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Genetic resources and breeding

Talinum portulacifolium is widespread and not in danger of genetic erosion. There are no known germplasm collections.

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Prospects

Talinum portulacifolium will remain a minor vegetable, of local importance when other vegetables are scarce.

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Major references

• Burkill, H.M., 1997. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 4, Families M–R. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 969 pp.
• Nyananyo, B.L.O. & Olowokudejo, J.D., 1986. Taxonomic studies in the genus Talinum in Nigeria. Willdenowia 15: 455–463.
• Phillips, S.M., 2002. Portulacaceae. In: Beentje, H.J. (Editor). Flora of Tropical East Africa. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, Netherlands. 40 pp.
• Ruffo, C.K., Birnie, A. & Tengnäs, B., 2002. Edible wild plants of Tanzania. Technical Handbook No 27. Regional Land Management Unit/ SIDA, Nairobi, Kenya. 766 pp.

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Other references

• Gilbert, M.G., 1993. Portulacaceae. In: Thulin, M. (Editor). Flora of Somalia. Volume 1. Pteridophyta; Gymnospermae; Angiospermae (Annonaceae-Fabaceae). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. pp. 120–126.
• Gilbert, M.G., 2000. Portulacaceae. In: Edwards, S., Mesfin Tadesse, Demissew Sebsebe & Hedberg, I. (Editors). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Volume 2, part 1. Magnoliaceae to Flacourtiaceae. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Department of Systematic Botany, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. pp. 249–258.
• Hauman, L., 1951. Portulacaceae. In: Robyns, W., Staner, P., Demaret, F., Germain, R., Gilbert, G., Hauman, L., Homès, M., Jurion, F., Lebrun, J., Vanden Abeele, M. & Boutique, R. (Editors). Flore du Congo belge et du Ruanda-Urundi. Spermatophytes. Volume 2. Institut National pour l’Étude Agronomique du Congo belge, Brussels, Belgium. pp. 118–127.
• Jansen, P.C.M., 1981. Spices, condiments and medicinal plants in Ethiopia, their taxonomy and agricultural significance. Agricultural Research Reports 906. Centre for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen, Netherlands. 327 pp.
• Tölken, H.R., 1969. The genus Talinum in southern Africa. Bothalia 10(1): 19–28.
• Wild, H., 1961. Portulacaceae. In: Exell, A.W. & Wild, H. (Editors). Flora Zambesiaca. Volume 1, part 2. Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations, London, United Kingdom. pp. 362–372.

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Author(s)

•	P.C.M. Jansen PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Editors

•	G.J.H. Grubben Boeckweijdt Consult, Prins Hendriklaan 24, 1401 AT Bussum, Netherlands
•	O.A. Denton National Horticultural Research Institute, P.M.B. 5432, Idi-Ishin, Ibadan, Nigeria

Associate editors

•	C.-M. Messiaen Bat. B 3, Résidence La Guirlande, 75, rue de Fontcarrade, 34070 Montpellier, France
•	R.R. Schippers De Boeier 7, 3742 GD Baarn, Netherlands

General editors

•	R.H.M.J. Lemmens PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
•	L.P.A. Oyen PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Jansen, P.C.M., 2004. Talinum portulacifolium (Forssk.) Asch. ex Schweinf. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>. Accessed .

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General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Vegetables
Ornamental use
Forage/feed use
Medicinal use
Climate change
Food security