Tetragonia tetragonoides

Description

A perennial branched herb. It starts growing erect but after this lies over. It then grows along the ground. It grows to 12 cm high. The stems can spread out to 1 m along the ground. The leaves are small and thick on round fleshy stems. They are triangle shaped. They are 4-6 cm long. They have distinct veins underneath. The flowers are yellow and 8 mm across. They are hidden at the base of the leaves. The fruit is up to 1 cm long and with 4 or 5 horns on top.

Edible Uses

The species, rarely used by indigenous people as a leaf vegetable, was first documented by Captain Cook. It was immediately picked, cooked, and pickled to help fight scurvy, and taken with the crew of the Endeavour. It spread when the explorer and botanist Joseph Banks took seeds back to Kew Gardens during the latter half of the 18th century. For two centuries, T. tetragonioides was the only cultivated vegetable to have originated from Australia and New Zealand. There are some indications that Māori did eat kōkihi perhaps more regularly. According to Murdoch Riley, "to counteract the bitterness of the older leaves of this herb, the Māori boiled it with the roots of the convolvulus (pōhue)", in reference to species of Convolvulaceae now classified as Calystegia. The tips of the spinach can be pinched off and eaten raw or cooked.

Traditional Uses

The fleshy leaves and tops are eaten. They can be eaten raw, steamed, boiled, stir-fried, creamed, served with mushrooms, or made into quiche. CAUTION They can contain oxalates and nitrates which can be poisonous.

Medicinal Uses

The plant is used medicinally. The leaves are antiscorbutic. Whole plants showed distinct anti-ulcerogenic activity in tests. The active principles were determined as sterylglucosides and cerebrosides.

Known Hazards

The plant contains calcium oxylate and saponins. Perfectly alright in small quantities, leaves containing oxalic acid should not be eaten in large amounts since it can lock-up other nutrients in the food, especially calcium, thus causing mineral deficiencies. The oxalic acid content will be reduced if the plant is cooked. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of raw foods that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish.

Distribution

A temperate plant. It will grow in hot dry climates. It is better suited to high altitude areas above 1000 m in tropical countries. It grows to 2700 m in Papua New Guinea. It grows on rocky or sandy ground often close to the seashore. It can grow in salty soils. It requires good drainage and full sun. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 7-9. Tasmania Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia*, Balkans, Brazil, Britain, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Chile, China, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, East Africa, Easter Island, Ecuador, Europe, France, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Caledonia, New Zealand*, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Senegal, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, St Helena, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania*, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

It is grown from seeds or cuttings. It is easy to save seed. Seed can be bought in stores. Seeds often grow better if soaked in water overnight. Seedlings are not easy to transplant so it is better to sow direct. Often 3-4 seeds are planted in a mound with the mounds 70 cm apart. Cuttings form roots quickly.

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ. The seeds germinate quite irregularly - pre-soaking them for 24 hours in warm water can speed up their germination. Cuttings root very easily.

Production

Plants grow rapidly. The tips of plants can be cut regularly.

Other Information

It is a cultivated food plant. At present only very rarely grown in Papua New Guinea.

Notes

There are about 50-60 Tetragonia species.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Cai bapxoi, Chikesoppu, Fan xing, Ka, Kabak, Kokihi, Novozelandska špinača, Sacha espinacam Tsuru-na, Warragul greens, Warrigal

References (88)

• Alice, L. & O'Quinn, T., Australian Bush Superfoods. Explore Australia p 174
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 630
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 46
• Bianchini, F., Corbetta, F., and Pistoia, M., 1975, Fruits of the Earth. Cassell. p 78 (As Tetragona expansa)
• Bindon, P., 1996, Useful Bush Plants. Western Australian Museum. p 249

More from Aizoaceae

Carpobrotus chilensis

Sea fig

Carpobrotus deliciosus

Sweet hottentot fig, Ice-plant, Sour-fig

Carpobrotus dimidiatus

Natal sourfig

Carpobrotus edulis

Hottentot Fig, Ice-plant

Carpobrotus glaucescens

Pigface, Coastal Noonflower, Angular pigface, Iceplant

Carpobrotus mellei