Spinach (Spinacia oleracea? L), also known as Persian cuisine, red root cuisine and parrot cuisine, belongs to the genus Spinach and Millet of Chenopodiaceae. The height of the plant can reach 1 m, the root is conical, reddish, less white, the leaves are halberd-shaped to oval, bright green, whole or with a few toothed lobes. There are many kinds of spinach, which can be divided into spiny and spiny varieties according to seed morphology.
Spinach is native to Iran and widely cultivated in China. It is one of the most common vegetables.
The source of spinach can be traced back to Persia (present-day Iran) in West Asia 2000 years ago, and passed through North Africa, and spread to Western Europe and Spain by Moors. According to Don Yao Hui, spinach seeds were introduced into China from Nepal as a tribute during the reign of Emperor Taizong.
Spinach is native to Iran in West Asia and has been cultivated for more than 2,000 years. There are two diploid related species of spinach in India and northeast Nepal, which are the original types of spinach.
Tang Yaohui written by wang pu (922 ~ 982) in the Song Dynasty (written in two years, 96 1) wrote: "During the reign of Emperor Taizong, Nipo Luowei (now Nepal) presented a pineapple, which looked like red, blue and thistle. When cooking with fire, it can be beneficial to food. "
According to the Biography of the Western Regions written by Ouyang Xiu in the 5th year of Jiayou (1060), in the 21st year of Zhenguan (647), Emperor Taizong sent envoys from Nibo Luorun to present a pineapple to the Tang Dynasty. There is also a saying in history that spinach was introduced from the West (Persia).