Common Name: Tree Spinach

General Information

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius is a monoecious, much branched, shrub or small tree with a thick pale bole, growing up to 6 metres tall[, ]. The plant contains a white latex, wild forms are usually armed with stinging hairs, but cultivated forms are unarmed[].
The plant is cultivated in parts of its native range, especially Mexico, Panama and Guatemala, for its edible leaves and medicinal virtues, and has also been trialled in parts of West Africa[, ]. It is used as a shade tree in some areas[].

Known Hazards

The uncooked leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides that produce hydrogen cyanide upon tissue damage[]. The cooking time required to lower HCN to safe levels is about 15 minutes[].
Long-term contact with the white sap can cause skin irritation[].
The leaves of most members of this genus have stinging hairs, this species is, apparently, only lightly armed[], though gloves should probably still be used when harvesting them[].

Botanical References

Range

Central America - Panama north to Mexico.

Habitat

Moist and dry thickets in open forest, often in open rocky localities, from sea-level up to elevations of 1,300 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	5.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of tropical regions, it can survive harsh conditions of high temperatures and droughts[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 32°c, but can tolerate 12 - 38°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 500 - 2,500mm[].
Prefers a sunny position, but also succeeds in deep shade[, ]. Thrives on a wide range of soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[]. Plants are tolerant of occasional inundation[, ]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Although the plant can reach 6 metres in height, the stems are easily broken by wind and it is recommended that a height of less than 2 metres be maintained[].
The first harvest can be taken 90 - 120 days after planting out[].
A fast-growing plant that resprouts well after cutting[]. The leaves are larger when grown in partial shade[].
Annual dry leaf yields of up to 12 t/ha are possible on fertile soil with about 9,000 plants/ha[]. The optimum harvest period is only 2 - 3 months per year, but in home gardens leaves are harvested as needed all the year round[]. The plant is ever-growing with a perpetual crop of leaves[].
Harvesting is best done with protected hands, because even in unarmed plants, long-term contact with the white sap can cause skin irritation[].
Serious diseases and pests are not known[].

There are a number of named varieties[].

Edible Uses

The young leaves and shoots, detoxified by cooking, are eaten as a vegetable[]. A good flavour, they are boiled and used as a spinach[]. Rich in protein, calcium, iron, carotene, riboflavin, niacin and ascorbic acid[]. They can be eaten alone or in combination with other vegetables in stews and soups[]. They are only rarely eaten raw as fresh greens[]. The leaves contain about 25% protein[].
The raw leaves contain potentially harmful cyanogenic glycosides which can break down to produce hydrogen cyanide upon tissue damage. Cooking breaks down the glycosides, the time required to lower them to safe levels is about 15 minutes[].

A popular drink in Yucatan (Mexico) is made by blending the raw leaves in sugar water with lemons, pineapple and other fruits[]. This is said to heighten virility[].

Medicinal

The plant is said to have many medicinal benefits, ranging from the ability to strengthen fingernails and darken greying hair[]. It is also used to cure alcoholism, diabetes, insomnia, skin disorders, venereal diseases, gout, scorpion stings and to improve brain function and memory[].

Numerous flavonoid compounds have been isolated from the leaves - most are kaempferol and quercetin glycosides[].
Most medicinal properties have never been experimentally tested[]. Diabetic rabbits, fed increasingly higher quantities of the leaves, showed a significant drop in blood sugar levels[].
Chicks fed diets high in the leaf meal had a lower overall mass but a significant increase in absolute heart mass, liver mass, red blood cell count and a significant reduction in mortality[].
The plant is known to contain proteolytic enzymes, which could explain the use of chaya sap for skin disorders[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is grown as a hedge in home gardens[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Stem cuttings about 40 cm long, that are dried for 1 - 14 days before being planted[].

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