Okinawan Spinach (红凤菜)
Annual or perennial herb up to 1 m tall.
The light green, fleshy leaves (15 cm long) have a reddish purple underside, are covered in soft, short hairs and have a 0.3-3 cm long petiole (leaf stalk). The lower leaves are purple, while the young, upper leaves are green.
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Gynura bicolor DC.
COMMON NAME
Velvet Plant, Kinjiso, Okinawan Spinach, Redflower Ragleaf, Fireweed, 紅鳳菜, 紫背天葵
CLASSIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS
Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) Plant Growth Form Herbaceous Plant Lifespan (in Singapore) Perennial Mode of Nutrition Autotrophic Maximum Height 1 m PLANT CARE AND PROPAGATION
In Singapore, Gynura bicolor needs protection from hot afternoon sun and can be grown under a shade cloth. It should be grown in well-drained, loamy soil and is sensitive to waterlogged soils. The leaves are ready to harvest after 35-40 days. When the plant reaches 20-25 cm tall, you can harvest the upper leaves (those >8-10 cm aboveground) every 1-2 weeks for 40-50 days.
USES
Leaves and young shoots are eaten in stews, soups and stir-fries. They are rich in iron and a good source of beta-carotene and calcium.
Disclaimer
The information in this website is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.