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Talinum galapagosum

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First the flowers, then leaves.


Plant on San Cristobal, Galapagos.


Plant in Copenhagen Botanical Garden.


Origin on San Cristobal.


Stem of very old plant.


Average plant, 100 centimetres tall.


Flower in Copenhagen Botanical Garden.

Author:  Mark A. Hershkovitz, 1991
Family:  TALINACEAE
Origin:  San Cristóbal; Galapagos; Ecuador
Soil:  Grit - Perlite
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Medium - Maximum
Thickness:  6 Centimetres
Height:  120-150 Centimetres
Flower:  White - Pink
Propagate:  Seeds/Cuttings
Names:  -
Synonyms:  Calandrinia galapagosa, H. St. John, 1937

This very endangered member of the Talinacaea family was given this name by Mark A. Hershkovitz in 1991. It is found only on the Galapagos island of San Cristóbal, down south, living in nine small areas on the slopes of a volcano. It grows in the well-drained volcanic soil on a steep hill, receiving some water and some to lots of sun. The flowers are white to pink, and the plant can be reproduced both by seeds and by cuttings. Best results in culture have been in pure perlite in a heated bed, but it worked fine for me in lava-gravel on Galapagos.

The genera name is derived from the Senegalese name for a certain species in Senegal. The species name as it is found on one of the islands of Galapagos.

Although a detailed morphological study is still required, it has been suggested that Talinum galapagosum/Calandrinia galapagosa could consist of two or three distinct taxonomic groups: A white morph (white flowers and green leaves), a pink morph (pink flowers and violet leaves) and an intermediate morph (pinkish-white flowers, greenish-violet leaves). The populations are found with quite some distance in-between.


Wild flower.      


Leaves red due to draught stress.


Normal leaves.


Growing in bare lava rock.


Origin on San Cristobal.


Old plant, covered in lichen.


Wild flower on Galapagos.