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Summary
Tree spinach (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius), otherwise known as Tread Softly, Cabbage Star, or Chaya, is a tropical shrub or small tree of about 6 m in height. It is characterized by stinging hairs, pale trunk, and alternate and simple leaves. The plant has several medicinal usages. It is used as treatment for various illnesses (i.e., alcoholism, diabetes, insomnia, gout, scorpion stings, skin disorders, and venereal diseases) and for its ability to strengthen fingernails, darken greying hair, and improving brain function and memory. When cooked, the young leaves and shoots of tree spinach are consumed as vegetable as it is rich in protein, calcium, iron, carotene, riboflavin, niacin, and ascorbic acid. It should be noted however that leaves should be cooked thoroughly to remove its high hydrocyanic acid content. Aside from medicinal and food use, tree spinach is also planted as a hedgerows in gardens. It can be grown from woody stem cuttings, softwood cuttings, or semi-hardwood cutting.
Physical Characteristics
Cnidoscolus is an evergreen Shrub growing to 5 m (16ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Cnidoscolus chaya Lundell Cnidoscolus chayamansa McVaugh Cnidoscolus fragrans (Kunth) Pohl Cnidoscol
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
The young leaves and shoots, detoxified by cooking, are eaten as a vegetable[ 317 ]. A good flavour, they are boiled and used as a spinach[ 298 ]. Rich in protein, calcium, iron, carotene, riboflavin, niacin and ascorbic acid[ 298 ]. Up to 5 raw leaves can be eaten a day. They can be eaten alone or in combination with other vegetables in stews and soups[ 299 ]. They are only rarely eaten raw as fresh greens[ 299 ]. Traditionally leaves are immersed and simmered for 20 minutes and then served with oil or butter. The leaves contain about 25% protein[ 317 ]. 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[ 299 ]. A popular drink in Yucatan (Mexico) is made by blending the raw leaves in sugar water with lemons, pineapple and other fruits[ 299 ]. This is said to heighten virility[ 299 ].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
The plant is said to have many medicinal benefits, ranging from the ability to strengthen fingernails and darken greying hair[ 299 ]. It is also used to cure alcoholism, diabetes, insomnia, skin disorders, venereal diseases, gout, scorpion stings and to improve brain function and memory[ 299 ]. Numerous flavonoid compounds have been isolated from the leaves - most are kaempferol and quercetin glycosides[ 299 ]. Most medicinal properties have never been experimentally tested[ 299 ]. Diabetic rabbits, fed increasingly higher quantities of the leaves, showed a significant drop in blood sugar levels[ 299 ]. 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[ 299 ]. The plant is known to contain proteolytic enzymes, which could explain the use of chaya sap for skin disorders[ 299 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Agroforestry Uses: The plant is grown as a hedge in home gardens[ 299 , 317 ]. The leaves are also used to feed animals, such as pigs, chickens, iguanas, ducks, goats and occasionally cattle [1-8]. Planted to form living fences and as an ornamental. It is also considered a good mulch for vegetable gardens [1-8]. Cnidoscolus aconitifolius attracts wildlife, including bees, spiders, ants, butterflies and birds [1-8].
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
A plant of tropical regions, it can survive harsh conditions of high temperatures and droughts[ 299 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 32°c, but can tolerate 12 - 38°c[ 418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 500 - 2,500mm[ 418 ]. Prefers a sunny position, but also succeeds in deep shade[ 299 , 418 ]. Thrives on a wide range of soils[ 298 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[ 418 ]. Plants are tolerant of occasional inundation[ 298 , 299 ]. Established plants are drought tolerant[ 299 ]. 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[ 299 ]. The first harvest can be taken 90 - 120 days after planting out[ 418 ]. A fast-growing plant that resprouts well after cutting[ 298 ]. The leaves are larger when grown in partial shade[ 298 ]. Annual dry leaf yields of up to 12 t/ha are possible on fertile soil with about 9,000 plants/ha[ 299 ]. The optimum harvest period is only 2 - 3 months per year, but in home gardens leaves are harvested as needed all the year round[ 299 ]. The plant is ever-growing with a perpetual crop of leaves[ 332 ]. Harvesting is best done with protected hands, because even in unarmed plants, long-term contact with the white sap can cause skin irritation[ 299 ]. Serious diseases and pests are not known[ 299 ]. There are a number of named varieties[ 299 ]. A USDA study in Puerto Rico reported that higher yields of greens could be obtained with chaya than any other vegetable they had studied. In another study chaya leaves were found to contain substantially greater amounts of nutrients than spinach leaves.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
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Plant Propagation
Seed. Stem cuttings about 40 cm long, that are dried for 1 - 14 days before being planted[ 299 ]. Herbaceous stem cuttings: woody stem cuttings, softwood cuttings From semi-hardwood cuttings. One report suggests that propagaton by seed is not recommended due to the plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Tree spinach (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius), otherwise known as Tread Softly, Cabbage Star, or Chaya. Other Names: Cabbage-star, Chicasquil, Devil nettle, Tree-spinach.
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Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Found In: Africa, Belize, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Hawaii, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Panama, Peru, USA, Venezuela, West Africa.
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has a high risk of introduction for cultivation in suitable tropical and subtropical habitats, mainly because of its ability to grow well in poor soil conditions and its high nutritional value. Its distribution is being promoted worldwide by various humanitarian organisations to provide poor communities with good nutritional options (Berkelaar, 2006; Growables, 2019). However, its invasive potential is generally considered low because the cultivated forms reproduce almost solely by stem cuttings. PIER (2018), on the other hand, assess it as high risk for the Pacific islands [1-8].
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(Mill.) I.M.Johnst.
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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