How to identify Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
Spinach is an annual vegetable characterized by its simple and alternate leaves that are often dark green. The leaves are typically smooth, though some varieties may have slightly crinkled textures. They are shaped like a spade, with a broad base tapering to a point, and can reach up to 12 inches (30 cm) in length. The plant itself tends to form a rosette close to the ground. In ideal conditions, it can grow to a height of about 1 foot (30 cm).
Lifespan: Annual, Biennial
Plant Type: Herb
Leaf Type: Deciduous
Dark green, spade-shaped leaves up to 12 inches (30 cm) long.
Dioecious flowers with male and female types, lacking scent, 0.1-0.2 inches (2.5-5 mm) long.
Brown, spiny-covered, one-seeded utricle fruits, roughly circular, 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) wide.
Thick, fleshy leaves with various shapes, smooth or crinkly, hastate to ovate, hairless, basal clumps.
The leaves of spinach are thick and fleshy, exhibiting various shapes from round to arrow-shaped depending on the cultivar and maturity. Arranged spirally on the flowering stalk, they may feature small 'earlobes' at the petiole-base intersection. The leaf surface can be smooth or crinkly. They are hairless, hastate to ovate in shape, and possess long petioles. Arranged in erect, basal clumps, these succulent leaves are an important edible feature of the plant.
The flowers of spinach are small and unobtrusive, often going unnoticed due to their size. Typically dioecious, male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Each male flower features four petal-like structures, with sepals and petals indistinguishable, measuring about 0.1-0.2 inches (2.5-5 mm) long. Female flowers are similarly small and non-showy. Both types of flowers lack a distinct scent and rely on wind for pollination. They usually bloom during spring or early summer.
The fruit of spinach is a type of utricle, a specialized structure notable for its spiny covering. This one-seeded fruit does not open naturally to release its seed. It is characterized by its brown coloration and its shape, which ranges from egg-like to roughly circular with a slight flattening, measuring roughly 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) in width. The surface texture of the spiny husk is distinct, adding an identifying feature to these small, roundish fruits.
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Scientific Classification of Spinach
