Talinum paniculatum

Talinum paniculatum is a succulent subshrub in the family Talinaceae that is native to much of North and South America, and the Caribbean countries.[1] It is commonly known as fameflower,[1] Jewels-of-Opar[1] (a name borrowed from the title of the novel Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs[2]), or pink baby's-breath.[1]

"Jewels of Opar" redirects here. For the novel, see Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar.

Talinum paniculatum
In pot
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Talinaceae
Genus: Talinum
Species:
T. paniculatum
Binomial name
Talinum paniculatum

Classification

The species was described in 1760 under the basionym of Portulaca paniculata by Nicolaus Joseph von Jacquin (1727–1817), then recombined in the genus Talinum in 1791 by Joseph Gaertner (1732–1791). In current classification, Talinum paniculatum belongs to the family Talinaceae, it was assigned in the past to the family of the purslane or Portulacaceae.

Appearance

Talinum paniculatum bears tuberous roots[3] and panicles of flowers and produces tiny, jewel-like fruits. Its peculiarity is its very long root, of orange colour , that reaches about 80 centimeters. It is a very bad herb in crops, and it proliferates very easily, since it roots very easily, even after it has been plucked and if it has any part of the root in contact with the soil. The plant as a whole can reach almost 2 meters high measured from the soil surface, where after maturity, its brown seeds (in abundance), spread easily through the surrounding area.[4]

Native range

Talinum paniculatum is native to the southern United States, much of Latin America (such as Paraguay and Uruguay) and the Caribbean. It has been introduced notably in Africa and Asia.[1]

Uses

Talinum paniculatum is often grown as an ornamental plant. Cultivars include 'Kingwood Gold',[5] 'Limón',[6] and 'Variegatum'.[5] The leaves are edible and have been used in traditional medicine in Asia.[7]

Used in home medicine as a diuretic, healing, emollient, vulval and anti-infective, it is also consumed in salads.[8]

  • Talinum paniculatum with fruits and flowers
    Talinum paniculatum with fruits and flowers
  • Growing beneath a brick wall
    Growing beneath a brick wall
  • Its fruits
    Its fruits
  • Closeup of fruits
    Closeup of fruits
  • Talinum paniculatum in Singapore Botanic Gardens
    Talinum paniculatum in Singapore Botanic Gardens
  • Botanical drawing
    Botanical drawing
  • Variegated variety
    Variegated variety

References
  1. Under its current treatment as Talinum paniculatum (from its basionym Portulaca paniculata), this species was published in De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum … 2:219. 1791. "Talinum paniculatum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  2. Jewels-of-Opar, Mississippi State University
  3. Sajeva, Maurizio; Mariangela Costanzo (1997). Succulents: the Illustrated Dictionary. Timber Press. p. 219. ISBN 978-0-88192-398-8.
  4. Gaertn., 1791 In: Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 219, t. 128, f. 13
  5. Hodgson, Larry (2002). Annuals for Every Purpose. Rodale. p. 303. ISBN 978-0-87596-824-7.
  6. Winter, Norman (2007-06-28). "Limón talinum is jewel for gardens". Southern Gardening. Mississippi State University.
  7. "Philippine Medicinal Plants Godofredo Umali-Stuart". 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  8. Roskov Y., Kunze T., Orrell T., Abucay L., Paglinawan L., Culham A., Bailly N., Kirk P., Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., Decock W., De Wever A., Didžiulis V. (ed) (2014). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2014 Annual Checklist.. Species 2000: Reading, UK.. Retrieved on 26 May 2014.
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