Thickhead, Okinawan spinach
Crassocephalum crepidioides

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. An upright, annual plant about 1 m tall. The stem is thick and soft. The leaves are alternate and 16-18 cm long. The leaves have lobes, and have teeth around the edge. Sometimes the young leaves have a purple edge. The leaves often droop. A flower is yellow and reddish, and develops at the top, bending over at first, then becoming upright. Fluffy seed heads develop after flowering. The fruit is dark brown, with long, silky hairs at the end. The seeds blow in the wind.

There are about 25-30 Crassocephalum species. C. crepidioides contains the hepatotoxic and tumorigenic pyrrolizidine alkaloid, jacobine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. A common weed in Papua New Guinea from sea level to over 2500 m. It is more common in wet areas and in garden sites. It also grows in many other tropical countries. It prefers light shade. At ECHO. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, China, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, FSM, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Norfolk Island, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, Rotuma, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tibet, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Tonga, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten cooked as a vegetable. They have a sharp but not bitter taste. They are often eaten mixed with other foods. The leaves are blanched if used in salads. The flowers can be steamed and eaten. The leaves have a smell which does not disappear with cooking. The roots are eaten with chilli sauce or cooked in fish curry. They are also stir-fried. Caution: It contains some alkaloids that are possible toxic. It should possibly not be eaten by pregnant women.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is used as a wild and cultivated vegetable in Australia, Vietnam, and West Africa. Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, tubers, root, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

It grows from seed. It is self sown. Seedlings appear in about 9 days and can be transplanted when 8-12 cm high. A spacing of 25 cm by 25 cm is suitable. Plants are topped when 20 cm high to increase branching. To collect seed, the entire bundle is pulled from the receptacle with one hand, and the hairs removed with the other hand, without letting them mix with the seed.

The first leaf harvest can be made in 6-7 weeks. There can be 5-9 harvests over a 60 day period. Seed can be collected for sowing about 16 weeks after sowing.

Its other names

Local names

Agologolo, A ngung, Anikale jhar, Bab cherdik, Benibanaborogiku, Buar, Chopogon, Dong ma gun, Doyan-doyan, Ebolo, Ekinami, Fau lele, Fireweed, Ga la xing, Gbolo, Gbuluh fuka, Guan dong weu niu, Gyal-pa-ehn,Hogegain, Ibel, Impingi, Ingiri, Kagiji, Limbiti, Lisahuka, Marakapon, Miao kuo, Ming guo cao, Nroj rog, Nya heu bin, O mi o sa, Pakcho, Pan-sout-htoe, Phak kaad chang, Phakkoat chaang, Rau tau bay, Redflower ragleaf, Sandeko, Sapsapon, Sipinis, Sla ialieh, Spinat, Tamkahru, Tera paibi, Thangbang, Udu daya, Voi ngoai, Wondally, Ya ge la, Yamen, Yaxiehuo

Synonyms

Crassocephalum crepidioides var. lutea Steen.; Crassocephalum crepidioides f. luteum (Steen.) Belcher; Gynura crepidioides Benth.; Gynura diversifolia Sch.Bip. ex Asch.; Gynura microcephala Vatke; Gynura polycephala Benth.; Senecio crepidioides (Benth.) ;