- Gynura crepidioides
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- "Okinawan spinach" redirects here.
Gynura crepioides Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Asterids Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Tribe: Senecioneae Genus: Gynura Species: G. crepioides Binomial name Gynura crepioides Gynura crepioides or okinawan spinach is a sub-tropical vegetable that forms a dense, non-vining, edible ground cover that grows well in full sun or partial shade. It is a vigorous, perennial vegetable that is adaptable to a variety of tropical climates and requires little if any additional input. It is also an attractive potted plant - shiny green leaves above, purple underneath. It attracts butterflies and in Hawaii, it is a host plant to the Kamehameha butterfly.
As a food, it makes a nice addition to salads, and can also be eaten when cooked. It is purported to have properties that help lower cholesterol. It is grown commercially as a vegetable in China.
Distribution
Sub-tropical Asia and the Pacific. In the USA, it will grow in Florida and Hawaii.
External links
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