SPINACH, or SPINAGE (Spinacia), a genus of herbaceous plants, of the natural order chenopodiaceec; diwelous, the male flowers consisting of a 4 parted perianth and four stamens; the female of a 2-3 cleft perianth. and a germen with four styles; the perianth ,hardening around the fruit as it ripens; the fruit an :when or 'DEN SmNAcit (S. ()lemma), is in general cultivation for the sake of its young leaves, which are a favorite and wholesome vegetable, either prepared by boiling, or by frying with a little butter. Two very distinct varieties are eultiVated PiticEnv SrrNActr, which has the leaves somewhat triangular and arrow-headed.imd the fruit rough with prickle-like pro leaves more round and blunt, and the fruit smooth. SPINACH is an annual. Its stem rises to the height of from 2 to 4 ft. the male flowers are in long spikes.the female in clusters close to the stem. After the stem begins to be developed, the leaves become hitter, and unfit for use. This bitterness appears also at an earlier period in dry weather, or in poor soil; and the more luxuriantly that Spinach grows, the better it is. It is sown in spring, and is ready for use in a very short time; or it is sown in autumn, thinned out, and used early in spring. The smooth Spinach is very generally preferred for the former purpose, and the prickly kind for the latter; but a somewhat intermediate variety, called Flanders Spinach, is now often used for both, being particularly esteemed for the large size of its leaves. The native country of Spinach is not well
known, but is believed to he some part of Asia, as the plant was introduced by the Arabs into Spain, and thence diffused over Europe. Another species (S. tetrandra)is cultivated, and much esteemed, in India. The name of Spinachis also given to a num ber of other plants of very different botanical characters, but which have the same bland and nutritious qualities, and are used in the same way.—NEw ZEALAND SPINACE{ is tetragonia expansa, a plant of the natural order mesembryacete, sub-order ktra goniete (nat. ord. tetragonutcem of Lindley), a trailing, succulent annual, spreading widely over the surface of the ground, and producing a great abundance of stalked ovate-rhomboid leaves, The young stems an 1 leaves of this plant are much used in New Zealand, and have now conic into very general use also in other parts of the world, as a kind of spinach. It is cultivated in the middle and s. of Europe and in Britain, succeeding well even in Scotland with the slightest aid of a hot-bed in spring.— PATIENCE DOCK, Or GARDEN PATIENCE (rumex patientia; see Docx), is called in Ger many ENGLISH SPINACH, and was formerly much cultivated in England, but .is now neglected.