Many years ago, I saw these plants in my friend's garden and I was told that they were edible and have medical value. I weren't paying much attention to the health benefits but I remembered that the leaves and little pink flowers were very pretty.
Sometime last year I noticed a few small plants of the same kind growing in one of my large flower pot and also on the ground near the flower pot. I decided to let it grow because I wanted to find out more about the plants.
I waited for them to grow and took some snapshots. I then posted the photos on Facebook's gardening groups and that was how I got the identification of these plants.
Some of the common names of these plants are Jewel of Opar, Flame Flower, Pink Baby's Breath, Jawa Ginseng, etc. Its scientific name is Talinum Paniculatum.
It is a fleshy, succulent plant or herb.
The leaves are fleshy. They are also glossy and bright light green.
The flowers are small and pink.
They grow easily and are considered by many as weeds.
The young and tender leaves and shoots can be harvested and eaten as vegetable, They can be eaten raw as salad. They can also be cooked as stir fry or in soup. I have heard that the leaves and shoots are being sold in some supermarkets but I have not seen with my own eyes.
This plant has been growing in the large pot.
I like the flowers. I didn't pluck or eat the leaves or shoots. I just want to know more about the plant.
The seeds are self-sowing. That's how they were brought to my garden - by the wind, birds, or insects.
I was also told to wait for over a year before harvesting the roots and that the roots will look like ginseng roots.
I can't remember how old this plant was but I noticed the leaves were yellowing and thinning.
I tried pulling up the whole plant but the stems break easily, so I have to dug out the roots.
I think my plant was not old enough as the roots were still small in size.
But they do look like ginseng roots.
I was told that the roots will taste like ginseng roots. To boil soup - slice the roots and boil with black chicken, red dates and goji berries. It is claimed that the plants when consumed, benefit breastfeeding mothers. So far I have not tasted or eaten the leaves or the roots.
If you are interested to know more about the health benefits of Ginseng and how it helps in weight loss, you can check it out here at nutriinspector.com. This site presents a comprehensive article on the complete history, sharing of the benefits, nutrition, side effects and how to use ginseng.
Happy reading!
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy;
without holiness no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and
that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
(Hebrews 12:14-15, NIV)
