Tree Spinach
Cnidoscolus aconitifolius
- Found in India
- Kerala, Puducherry
How to identify Tree Spinach
Identify Tree Spinach by combining habit, leaf characters, flower or fruit details, location, and its family pattern. Do not rely on one feature alone.
- Check the distinctive field mark: Leaves eaten as a vegetable (tree spinach), stinging hairs.
- Confirm leaf margin: Lobed.
- Confirm leaf surface: Hirsute (coarsely hairy).
- Confirm flower colour: White.
- In India, compare location records such as Kerala, Puducherry.
- Confirm it sits within the Euphorbiaceae family pattern, then compare close relatives before deciding it is Tree Spinach.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Cnidoscolus aconitifolius
- Genus
- Cnidoscolus
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Found in India
- Kerala, Puducherry
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
- Leaf margin
- LobedrecordedThe edge is divided into rounded or pointed sections that don't reach the midrib.“The leaves are palmately lobed with three or more lobes that are also lobed themselves, and measure 10–30 cm (4–12 in) across depending on the age and variety.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf surface
- Hirsute (coarsely hairy)recorded
Typical of the family
- Arrangement
- Alternate
Characters marked “recorded” are for Tree Spinach itself; the rest are typical of the Euphorbiaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Whiterecorded
Typical of the family
- Flower symmetry
- Actinomorphic (radially symmetrical)
- Inflorescence
- Cyme
- Fruit
- Capsule
Characters marked “recorded” are for Tree Spinach itself; the rest are typical of the Euphorbiaceae family — flowering plants only.
About Tree Spinach
Tree Spinach (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius) belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. In India it has been recorded in Kerala and Puducherry.
Uses
In practice it is grown for parts that are eaten and long used in traditional medicine. Those medicinal uses are traditional attributions, not medical advice. Parts of this plant are reported as poisonous — treat it as unsafe to eat and wash your hands after handling.
Euphorbiaceae
Spurge/Euphorbia family
Tree Spinach belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
Explore the Euphorbiaceae familySnap it. Know it.
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Common plant problems
If you are starting from symptoms instead of a diagnosis, use the plant disease symptom checker to narrow the cause before treating.
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