Malabar spinach, New Zealand spinach and strawberry spinach are some of the vegetables that are very similar to common spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) regarding their use. Although they share some properties, each has unique and distinct characteristics. Common spinach is a biennial plant that belongs to the Chenopodiaceae family and has a rosette growth. Malabar spinach (Basella alba L.) belongs to Basellaceae family and is a perennial and climbing plant, similar to New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides (Pall.) Kuntze). New Zealand spinach belongs to Aizoaceae family, while strawberry spinach (Blitum virgatum L.) belongs to Amaranthaceae family. Strawberry spinach grows upright and is an annual plant. New Zealand spinach also grows in salty soils, while Malabar spinach grows well in hot and dry summers. Strawberry spinach is the only one with edible red fruits that faintly resemble strawberry fruits. If we compare their substance content, Malabar spinach is more similar to common spinach that to New Zealand spinach. While strawberry spinach has the smallest, the New Zealand has the largest, multigerm seeds. This also means that a smaller amount of seed/ha is required for sowing.
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