Morning Glory - Bamboo Leaf family Convolvulaceae. This is an upland type of water spinach grown from seeds on moist soil. It is characterized by long, narrow, pointed leaves resembling bamboo leaves. The main edible parts are the young shoots, stems, and leaves.
Characteristic Features
The stems are relatively slender, cylindrical, and naturally green, with distinct nodes. Compared with water-grown water spinach, upland-grown plants generally have firmer stems with less water content. Young shoots are relatively straight or slightly curved, with firm and crisp tender stems.
The leaves are small to medium in size, long and narrow, tapering to pointed tips, with relatively smooth margins and a light to dark green color. Their long, narrow and pointed shape resembles bamboo leaves and is the main identifying characteristic of this type.
Acceptable raw material should have fresh, naturally green shoots, firm and crisp stems, intact leaves, and no yellowing, wilting, bruising, slime, decay, mold, pest damage, or abnormal odor.
Flavor & Texture
The vegetable has a mild characteristic aroma with a fresh and slightly sweet green flavor. Young upland-grown stems are firm and crisp, with less water content than water-grown water spinach, while the leaves are softer. When properly cooked, the young stems retain their characteristic crisp texture.
Uses and Applications
Seed-Grown Bamboo-Leaf Upland Water Spinach is commonly used for stir-frying, boiling, soups, or cooking with meat, shrimp, fish, and seasonings. The mature base, damaged leaves, and older stems are removed during preparation, followed by washing and cutting into suitable sections before cooking.
Nutritionally, water spinach provides water, dietary fiber, vitamins A, C and K, folate, iron, calcium, and various minerals.
