Spinacea oleracea (Spinach)
Life
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Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
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Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants)
> Core Eudicots
> Order: Caryophyllales > Family:
Amaranthaceae
Spinacea oleracea appears to have been selectively
cultivated from Spinacea tetrandra which is native to the mountainous
regions of southwestern Asia (the Himalayas and Afghanistan). The first known
record of using Spinach as a vegetable dates back to China in the 7th to 8th
centuries AD and the first record of its use in Europe dates to the
1200's.
Spinach can be eaten raw in salads or lightly cooked. It contains
oxalic acid which gives it an acidic taste and it is rich in Vitamin A.
References
-
Sauer, J.D. 1993. Historical geography of
crop plants - a select roster. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
Text by Hamish Robertson
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