Longevity spinach is an edible vine which grows in Southeast Asia, China and Africa.
The plant is collected from the wild but is also grown as a vegetable or as a medicinal plant.
The young leaves are used for cooking, for example in meat dishes or in soups.
Names
Scientific
Gynura procumbens
Synonym
Cacalia procumbens
English
Longevity spinach
Other
Daon Dewa
Taxonomy
Order
Asterales
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Gynura
Species
Gynura procumbens (Longevity spinach)
Basic information and facts
Origin:
Distribution:
South East Asia, China, Africa
Annual, biennial, or perennial:
Plant:
A vine growing near streams in forests, on sandy slopes and climbing on shrubs or trees.
Leaves:
Leaves are ovate-elliptic or lanceolate. They are 3.5 to 8 centimeters long and 1 to 3.5 centimeters wide.
Propagation:
Can be propagated by using cuttings.
Harvesting:
Young leaves are picked.
Uses:
Longevity spinach is used as a vegetable or as a medicinal plant.
Crop categories
Herbs
Leaf vegetables
Medicinal plants
Minor crops
Subtropical crops
Tropical crops
Vegetables