Warrigal greens
| Tetragonia tetragonioides | |
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Core eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Aizoaceae |
| Genus: | Tetragonia |
| Species: | T. tetragonioides |
| Binomial name | |
|
Tetragonia tetragonioides (Pallos) Kuntze |
|
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 51 kJ (12 kcal) |
|
2.13 g
|
|
| Sugars | 0.25 |
| Dietary fiber | 1.4 g |
|
0.17 g
|
|
|
1.3 g
|
|
| Vitamins | |
| Vitamin A | 3622 IU |
| Thiamine (B1) |
(3%)
0.03 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) |
(9%)
0.107 mg |
| Niacin (B3) |
(3%)
0.39 mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) |
(5%)
0.256 mg |
| Vitamin B6 |
(18%)
0.237 mg |
| Vitamin C |
(19%)
16 mg |
| Vitamin E |
(8%)
1.23 mg |
| Vitamin K |
(278%)
292 μg |
| Minerals | |
| Calcium |
(5%)
48 mg |
| Iron |
(5%)
0.66 mg |
| Magnesium |
(9%)
32 mg |
| Manganese |
(25%)
0.526 mg |
| Phosphorus |
(3%)
22 mg |
| Potassium |
(2%)
102 mg |
| Sodium |
(7%)
107 mg |
| Zinc |
(3%)
0.31 mg |
|
|
|
|
|
| Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database |
|
Tetragonia tetragonioides (previously T. expansa) is a leafy groundcover also known as Botany Bay spinach, Cook's cabbage, kōkihi (in Māori), New Zealand spinach,sea spinach, and tetragon. Its Australian names of warrigal greens and warrigal cabbage come from the local use of to describe plants that are wild (not farmed originally). It is native to Argentina, Australia, Chile, Japan, and New Zealand.
The species, rarely used by indigenous people as a leaf vegetable, was first mentioned 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. "To counteract the bitterness of the older leaves of this herb, the Māori boiled it with the roots of the convolvulus (pōhue)".
The species prefers a moist environment for growth. The plant has a trailing habit, and will form a thick carpet on the ground or climb though other vegetation and hang downwards. The leaves of the plant are 3–15 cm long, triangular in shape, and bright green. The leaves are thick, and covered with tiny that look like waterdrops on the top and bottom of the leaves. The flowers of the plant are yellow, and the fruit is a small, hard capsule covered with small horns. The plant is a halophyte and grows well in saline ground.
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Wikipedia