Description
Waterleaf is a vegetable crop native to and grown in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America (USDA, NRCS 2020). This crop belongs to the purslane family, Portulaceae (Carolin 1987). Waterleaf (Talinum triangulare (Jacq.) Willd) is often used interchangeably with Talinum fruticosum (L.) Juss (Schippers 2000). Waterleaf is commonly known as Ceylon spinach, Surinam purslane, Philippine spinach, Grassé grand pourpier, Blatt-ginseng, Lustrosa-grande, Espinaca de Java, and Sweetheart (USDA, NPGS 2020). Waterleaf is a short life-span species and takes an average of only 30–45 days from planting to harvest (Iren et al. 2017). The edible leaves are soft, succulent, and highly nutritious (Figure 1). Waterleaf does not appear on the list of invasive plants species evaluated by the UF/IFAS Assessment. This vegetable is available in some local grocery stores in Florida but is new to most people in Florida and its environs. This article will give an overview of this emerging vegetable in Florida. The intended audience is county Extension faculty, students, growers, and consumers.
