spinach tree - Cnidoscolus aconitifolius - pic's wanted?

Discussion in 'Planting, growing, nurturing Plants' started by gardenlen, Oct 12, 2006.

  1. gardenlen

    gardenlen Group for banned users

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    g'day garden friends,

    another question the 'spinach tree' aka 'tread softly' aka 'Cnidoscolus aconitifolius'.

    does anyone have any ideas where i can see pictures of this tree online please?

    tia

    len
     
  2. Cornonthecob

    Cornonthecob Junior Member

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  3. gardenlen

    gardenlen Group for banned users

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    thanks c.o.c,

    that is in my archive now.

    looking at it not sure if i want to add it into my food growing regime??

    len
     
  4. Cornonthecob

    Cornonthecob Junior Member

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    I think Sonya has something like this....it doesn't appear that hard to keep it pruned down to a manageable size.
     
  5. Richard on Maui

    Richard on Maui Junior Member

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    Aha! We've got that thing growing in our gulch. People have called it "Chia". How do you eat it?
     
  6. Cornonthecob

    Cornonthecob Junior Member

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    Aren't the young tender leaves eaten like a spinach?
     
  7. gardenlen

    gardenlen Group for banned users

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    while googling for pics etc about the tree one site i was at suggested the leaves needed a lot of cooking to minimise the oxalic in the sap, or something like that, don't know the site now as it wasn't what i was looking for.

    the sap is milky like.

    len
     
  8. Cornonthecob

    Cornonthecob Junior Member

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    Milky sap is something to be careful with in any plant!
     
  9. gardenlen

    gardenlen Group for banned users

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    c.o.c

    yup that's the rule i work to.

    but the info says edible mmmm that's why i reckon i may stick with the knowns ie.,. nz spinach etc.,.

    len
     
  10. Squeak

    Squeak Junior Member

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    Len, this is a plant commonly used in Africa and the Americas as a food. It's also used in British commercial poultry as a leaf meal.

    You boil or steam the leaves/shoots and eat them like you would spinach. However, if you boil, do so with some salt as it prevents losses of Vitamin C.

    Or you can use them to wrap up some tamales (mmm!) Or a casserole (MMMMMM!!)

    The leaves are higher in nutrients than other leafy greens and can be used for medicinal as well as culinary reasons. They also contain cyanogenic glucosides but these are inactivated by 5-10 minutes' cooking time. You leave the stem well alone.

    This plant is commonly mixed up with c. chayamansa also known as Chaya
    [​IMG]

    and while both are in the same family and both are nutritious, they do bear some differences.

    *edited to add a larger, close up photo so as not to confuse the punters :D
     
  11. Richard on Maui

    Richard on Maui Junior Member

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    Thanks Squeaky.

    Common names are a bit like that, aren't they? but with a specific epithet like 'Cnidoscolus aconitifolius' I can see how my poor Hawaiian hippy mates just call them all Chaya. Ha ha.

    I haven't eaten either of these plants, yet.

    SO, while we are on about tree spinaches, what about Sauropus androgynes? or Katuk? That's one of my favourites. And with the pretty little red flowery thing they are almost ornamental...
     
  12. Squeak

    Squeak Junior Member

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    I think you mean Sauropus androgynus otherwise known here as the sweet leaf. The trees in Queensland are dark, green and leafy and are far from ornamental though (although if you were a bonsai master then this could be possible...)

    I agree, they're a beaut food. Strong nut taste, great to grow as a hedge outside your back door as the leaves can be used in anything from salads to curries to sick cats.

    Asians deep fry them in batter which is nice but nothing beats a fresh salad, in my opinion.

    As with everything, eat in moderation. Nasty things happened in Taiwan when someone thought up the idea of using it as a dietary companion.
     
  13. Richard on Maui

    Richard on Maui Junior Member

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  14. Squeak

    Squeak Junior Member

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    Richard, I posted a picture of c. chaymansana. as an example of how the two are mixed up. I did this because someone else had already posted a picture of c. aconitifolius as you will see up the top.

    It pays to actually read the posts, something I note you don't tend to do often.

    Cheers,
    S.
    :D
     
  15. gardenlen

    gardenlen Group for banned users

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    hey squeak,

    there is a warning on your earlier post about it being illigal to embed an image from another web site and that warning graphic is right where you ad the picture so i saw nothing of the picture.

    len
     
  16. Squeak

    Squeak Junior Member

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    And how do you think Dave got it, Len? :D Don't worry, God of Prohibition isn't going to smote you.

    Oh look! A c. aconitifolius! Look away Len! Look away! :D

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Richard on Maui

    Richard on Maui Junior Member

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    Who are you, Squeaky?
     
  18. Richard on Maui

    Richard on Maui Junior Member

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    Squeak, this was the link you posted before you edited and replaced it with the "close up", and then made out like I didn't read your post.
    https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/images/716637843
    I may be mistaken, but I don't think they are the same species.
    Please, I read your post. I do indeed try to read most of the posts on this forum, especially in threads that I participate in. I may come to different conclusions than you, but that's all part of the fun, mate.
    Who are you?
     
  19. murray

    murray Junior Member

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    hey squeaky

    umm..

    you edited your post to change the plant picture before telling Richard off for not reading your post carefully enough. that's not very nice dude. maybe we'll have to change your name to 'sneaky'.. :lol:

    m
     
  20. Squeak

    Squeak Junior Member

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    Oh dear, we are sensitive souls. Telling off? Since when did a point in hand equate to remonstration? Perhaps you should read the post again too, Murray.

    Really, it's not that hard.
     

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