Difference between revisions of "Tetragonia"

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{{Taxobox
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{{SPlantbox
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| color = lightgreen
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|familia=Aizoaceae
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| name = ''Tetragonia''
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|genus=Tetragonia
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| image = Tetragonia_tetragonioides_habit.jpg
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|Temp Metric=°F
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| image_width = 240px
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|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
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| image_caption = ''Tetragonia tetragonioides''
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|image=Tetragonia_tetragonioides_habit.jpg
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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|image_width=200
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| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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|image_caption=Tetragonia tetragonioides
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| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
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}}
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| ordo = [[Caryophyllales]]
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'''''Tetragonia''''' is a genus of 50-60 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Aizoaceae]], native to temperate and subtropical regions mostly of the [[Southern Hemisphere]], in [[New Zealand]], [[Australia]], southern [[Africa]] and [[South America]]. The best known species of ''Tetragonia'' is the leafy [[vegetable]] [[food]] [[crop]], ''[[Tetragonia tetragonioides]]'', or New Zealand spinach.
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| familia = [[Aizoaceae]]
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| genus = '''''Tetragonia'''''
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Plants of the ''Tetragonia'' genus are [[herbs]] or small [[shrubs]]. [[Leaves]] are alternate and [[succulent]], with flowers typically yellow and small . [[Fruit]] are initially succulent but become dry and woody with age.<ref> Beadle, N.C.W., Part II, ''Students Flora of North Eastern New South Wales'', University of New England, 1972, IBSN 85834-040-2. </ref>
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| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
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| subdivision_ranks = Species
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New Zealand spinach is widely cultivated as a summer leafy vegetable.
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| subdivision =  
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About 50-60 species, including:<br/>
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{{Inc|
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Tetragonia (Greek, four-angled, referring to the usually four-angled fruit). Aizoaceae. Here is included a garden vegetable of minor importance.
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Herbs or subshrubs from the southern hemisphere and Japan; usually decumbent: lvs. alternate, short-petioled, somewhat fleshy: fls. yellow, green, or reddish, axillary, apetalous; calyx 3-5-lobed.—Only 1 species in cult., but 20 or more species are known in E. Asia and the southern hemisphere.
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{{SCH}}
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}}
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==Cultivation==
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{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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===Propagation===
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{{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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===Pests and diseases===
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{{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
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==Species==
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About 50-60 species, including{{wp}}:<br/>
 
''Tetragonia angustifolia''<br/>
 
''Tetragonia angustifolia''<br/>
 
''Tetragonia arbuscula''<br/>
 
''Tetragonia arbuscula''<br/>
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''Tetragonia nigrescens''<br/>
 
''Tetragonia nigrescens''<br/>
 
''Tetragonia pedunculata''<br/>
 
''Tetragonia pedunculata''<br/>
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''Tetragonia tetragonioides''<br/>
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''[[Tetragonia tetragonioides]]''<br/>
 
''Tetragonia trigyna''<br/>
 
''Tetragonia trigyna''<br/>
 
''Tetragonia vestita''
 
''Tetragonia vestita''
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}}
 
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'''''Tetragonia''''' is a genus of 50-60 species of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Aizoaceae]], native to temperate and subtropical regions of the [[Southern Hemisphere]], in [[New Zealand]], [[Australia]], southern [[Africa]] and [[South America]]. Common names include '''New Zealand Spinach''', '''Kokihi''' ([[Māori language]]), '''Warrigal Greens''', '''Sea Spinach''', '''Botany Bay Spinach''', '''Duneweed''' (South Africa), and '''Cook's Cabbage'''.
 
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The genus, widely used by [[Māori]] and other indigenous people as a [[leaf vegetable]], was first mentioned by [[James Cook|Captain Cook]]. It was immediately picked, cooked, and pickled to help fight [[scurvy]], and taken with the crew. It spread when the explorer and botanist [[Joseph Banks]] took a viable plant back to [[London]] during the latter half of the [[18th century]].
 
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The species prefer a moist environment for growth. The plant grows flat on the ground. The leaves of the plant are 3-15 cm long, triangular in shape and bright green. The leaves are thick, and covered with tiny [[papillae]] that look like waterdrops on the top and bottom of the leaves. The [[flower]]s of the plant are yellow, and the [[fruit]] is a small, hard pod covered with small horns. The plant is a [[halophyte]] and grows well in [[salinity|saline]] ground.
 
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===Cultivation===
 
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It is grown for the [[List of plants with edible leaves|edible leaves]], and can be used as food or an [[ornamental plant]] for ground cover. As some of its names signify, it has similar flavour and texture properties to [[spinach]], and is cooked like spinach, although some, perhaps all species contain mild toxins which need to be removed by blanching the leaves in hot water for one minute, then rinsing in cold water before cooking. It can be found as an [[invasive plant]] in [[North America|North]] and [[South America]], and has been cultivated along the [[East Asia]]n rim. It thrives in hot weather, and is considered an [[heirloom vegetable]]. Few insects will bother it, and even [[slug]]s and [[snail]]s do not seem to bother it. 
 
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The thick, irregularly-shaped [[seed]]s should be planted just after the last spring [[frost]]. Before planting, the seeds should be soaked for 12 hours in cold water, or 3 hours in warm water. Seeds should be planted 5-10 mm deep, and spaced 15-30 cm apart. The seedlings will emerge in 10-20 days, and it will continue to produce greens through the summer.
 
  
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[[Category:Aizoaceae]]
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==Gallery==
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[[Category:Leaf vegetables]]
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{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->
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[[Category:Invasive species]]
 
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[[Category:Flora of Australia]]
 
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[[Category:Flora of Chile]]
 
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[[Category:Flora of Argentina]]
 
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[[Category:Flora of New Zealand]]
 
  
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
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Image:Upload.png| photo 1
 
Image:PTetragonia2.JPG|
 
Image:PTetragonia2.JPG|
 
Image:Tetragonia3.JPG|
 
Image:Tetragonia3.JPG|
 
Image:Tetragonia1.JPG|
 
Image:Tetragonia1.JPG|
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</gallery>
  
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</gallery>
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==References==
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
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==External links==
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*{{wplink}}
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{{stub}}
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__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 00:28, 21 April 2010


Tetragonia tetragonioides


Plant Characteristics
Cultivation
Scientific Names

Aizoaceae >

Tetragonia >


If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!


Tetragonia is a genus of 50-60 species of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to temperate and subtropical regions mostly of the Southern Hemisphere, in New Zealand, Australia, southern Africa and South America. The best known species of Tetragonia is the leafy vegetable food crop, Tetragonia tetragonioides, or New Zealand spinach.

Plants of the Tetragonia genus are herbs or small shrubs. Leaves are alternate and succulent, with flowers typically yellow and small . Fruit are initially succulent but become dry and woody with age.[1]

New Zealand spinach is widely cultivated as a summer leafy vegetable.


Read about Tetragonia in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture 

Tetragonia (Greek, four-angled, referring to the usually four-angled fruit). Aizoaceae. Here is included a garden vegetable of minor importance.

Herbs or subshrubs from the southern hemisphere and Japan; usually decumbent: lvs. alternate, short-petioled, somewhat fleshy: fls. yellow, green, or reddish, axillary, apetalous; calyx 3-5-lobed.—Only 1 species in cult., but 20 or more species are known in E. Asia and the southern hemisphere. CH


The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.


Cultivation

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Propagation

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Pests and diseases

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Species

About 50-60 species, includingwp:
Tetragonia angustifolia
Tetragonia arbuscula
Tetragonia copiapina
Tetragonia coronata
Tetragonia cristata
Tetragonia crystallina
Tetragonia decumbens
Tetragonia diptera
Tetragonia eremaea
Tetragonia espinosae
Tetragonia fruticosa
Tetragonia herbacea
Tetragonia implexicoma
Tetragonia macrocarpa
Tetragonia maritima
Tetragonia ovata
Tetragonia moore
Tetragonia nigrescens
Tetragonia pedunculata
Tetragonia tetragonioides
Tetragonia trigyna
Tetragonia vestita

Gallery

If you have a photo of this plant, please upload it! Plus, there may be other photos available for you to add.

  • photo 1

  • PTetragonia2.JPG
  • Tetragonia3.JPG
  • Tetragonia1.JPG

References

External links


  1. ↑ Beadle, N.C.W., Part II, Students Flora of North Eastern New South Wales, University of New England, 1972, IBSN 85834-040-2.
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