Gynura bicolor

(Willdenow) A.P. de Candolle

Velvet plant, Gynura, Okinawan spinach, Red groundsel

Asteraceae Edible: Leaves, Vegetable, Roots, Leaves - tea Potential hazards — see below 460 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Gynura bicolor, also called hongfeng cai (紅鳳菜) in Chinese, suizenjina (水前寺菜) in Japanese, Okinawan spinach or edible gynura, is a member of the chrysanthemum family (Asteraceae). It is native to China, Thailand, and Myanmar but grown in many other places as a vegetable and as a medicinal herb. There are two kinds: one that is green on both sides, and another with leaves that are green on the top and purple underneath. Both kinds are considered medicinal vegetables. Gynura bicolor is a perennial and therefore found for sale throughout the year, however, winter and spring are the best times to use the plant.

Description

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year It can be scrambling or erect. It grows 35 cm long. The leaves often have no leaf stalks. The leaf blades are broadly oval and 8-15 cm long. They are usually green on top and purple underneath. They are fleshy. They can have teeth or lobes. The flowers are in loose clusters or 4-13 flower heads. They have purple tips.

Edible Uses

Gynura bicolor contains high levels of vitamin C, crude protein, iron, carotenoids, calcium, essential amino acids, and is a rich source of anthocyanins. According to Chinese food grouping, Gynura bicolor is a 'cool' food, so the leaves are stir-fried with sesame oil and ginger (both 'hotter' foods) to achieve balance. The stems and roots of the plant can also be made into tea. Choose leaves with few bruises and without black stains. In Japan, Gynura bicolor is eaten as local vegetable in Ishikawa, Kumamoto, and Okinawa, blanched lightly and served with ponzu, as an ingredient of miso soup, or tempura. The roots of the plant have been used for consumption in aviation for their richness in Vitamin K. It has an application to address bone decay in astronauts, increasing the absorption of calcium. It can also help female astronauts during menstruation.

Traditional Uses

Young leaves are eaten as a vegetable or cooked in soups. The young leaves are flavoured with sauces and vinegar. The roots are cooked with sliced pork.

Known Hazards

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, toxic to the human liver, have been discovered in Gynura bicolor tested from five regions in China. No significant genotoxic effects were found. Samples collected from one region, Jiangsu, displayed weak cytotoxicity at the concentration of 100mg/ml, indicating that some caution should be had. Another study found that the plant generally has a negligible level of toxicity when administered orally and has been labeled safe in experimental rats. The plant was not cytotoxic to the normal cell line and "confirmed the safety of the G. bicolor for consumption." The study also found that the plant had a chemoprevention potential. Controlled consumption of the plant has been advised to prevent any potential harmful effects from the generally low presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It needs a sunny location. In southern China it grows in rocky or wet places by rivers between 600-1,500 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Tuvalu, USA, Vietnam,

Cultivation

It is easily grown from cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - Cuttings of half-ripe wood.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is sold in local markets in China.

Notes

There are about 100 Gynura species. They are mostly in the tropics. Gynura bicolor (Burm.f.) Merr. is a synonym of Gynura pseudochina.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Leaves	91.6	109	26	3.7	—	—	2.3	—

Synonyms

Cynurus bicolor Roxb.Gynura angulosa hanceSenecio bicolor Sch.Bip.Senecio moluccanus Roxb.

Also Known As

Ebolo, Ginura, Redflower ragleaf, Suizenji-na, Tlang-nal, Zi-bei-tian-kui

References (19)

Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 40
AVRDC files
Bremness, L., 1994, Herbs. Collins Eyewitness Handbooks. Harper Collins. p 176
Chao, Pi-Yu, et al, 2014, Antioxidant Activity in Extracts of 27 Indigenous Taiwanese Vegetables. Nutrients 2014, 6, 2115-2130
"Chinese Nutrition Journal", 2002, Vol 23(11) p 121

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