New Zealand spinach
Family Aizoaceae
Tetragonia expansa (= Tetragonia tetragonioides), New Zealand spinach (T. expansa 1), is a vigorous annual with spreading stems, 60-90 cm long, bearing fleshy leaves up to 12 cm long. The axillary flowers are inconspicuous and yellowish-green in colour. The fruit is hard and crowned with horns, about 8 mm long.
Distribution
The plant grows wild along the coasts of New Zealand and South and West Australia and was brought to Europe by the botanist Joseph Banks around 1770 during the first voyage of Captain Cook.
Use
The leaves (T. expansa 2) are eaten like spinach. It is less hardy than spinach, but as the plant is a slow grower, it is not much cultivated on a commercial basis. In tropical countries it is valued for its drought-resistant qualities.