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Tree Spinach / (Chaya Tree)

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius

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20.8481, -86.8759

Field Notes

Description:

Photo take in my backyard a very common plant in this area use in many different ways is small bush maybe 1.5 mt tall at most has a some varieties have stinging hairs and require gloves for harvesting.

Habitat:

Found from northern México to Guatemala in tropical areas.

Notes:

Chaya is a good source of protein, vitamins, calcium, and iron; and is also a rich source of antioxidants.However, raw chaya leaves are toxic as they contain a glucoside that can release toxic cyanide. Cooking is essential prior to consumption to inactivate the toxic components; in this chaya is similar to cassava, which also contains toxic hydrocyanic glycosides and must be cooked before being eaten.
Wikipedia.

Reference Links:

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (11)
Scott Frazier
@ Emma, some plants, like this one I guess, need to be cooked to break down toxins/alkaloids etc before eating. An example is cassava leaf which is a big part of west African or Indonesian cuisine. Other plants need to be thoroughly washed to get rid of parasites and microbes...and pesticides. If the water isn't clean then it is smart to blanch them to make sure any amoebas etc are killed...
Gerardo Aizpuru
Probably because to do the juice only use like 2 leaf so maybe is not dangerous in small quantities.
HemaShah
Actually little amounts of cyanide are present in a lot of plants and vegetables. Potatoes were banned completely during a certain Era because they thought they were poisonous. I always buy potatoes which do not have any green on them at all. Also certain seeds of the most common vegetables have cyanide too. Maybe small amounts of Cyanide keeps the immune system active and alert! Just an assumption!
Gerardo Aizpuru
Well Emma the people here in the area cook this plant in different ways but also i have taste a juice made of pineapple and chaya and is not cook they put all in a blender whit orange juice and that is it.
HemaShah
So does this mean that raw leafy vegetables should be cooked before consumption?
p.young713
Thanks for joining the mission! Very good notes on this plant, Very interesting.
Planter
Chaya is great! Very easy to propagate by cuttings also.

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Mexico Horn of Plenty
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 19, 2012

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