Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Spinacia oleracea
espinaca, espinaca hembra, spinach
Stems leafy, 1-5(-10) dm. Leaves gradually becoming smaller distally; blade oblong, base cuneate. Bracteoles orbicular-obovate, usually wider than long, apex with divergent spine or smooth. 2n = 12 (WFO, 2022).
It is used as a poison and a medicine and for food (POWO, 2022).
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida (= Dicotyledoneae)
Order
Caryophyllales
Family
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Spinacia
Species
oleracea
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn.: Atriplex griffithii ssp. stocksii (Boiss.) Boulos
Origin: Introduced - established
Year of first record: 1985
Mode of introduction: Intentional
Introduction Pathway: Intentional
Subpathway: Agriculture/Horticulture
Introduced status: Human dependent
Invasive status: Unlikely to become invasive
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Its native range is Central Asia to SW. Siberia (POWO, 2022).
- Flores, E. (1985) Censo de Plantas Introducidas desde el Canal de Itabaca hasta Puerto Ayora. Tesis de Ingeniero Forestal, Univ. Técnica Luis Vargas Torres, Esmeraldas: 1-132.
- Lawesson, J.E. (1987) Plantas exóticas en las Islas Galápagos, un resumen. Memorias. Taller sobre investigación Botánica y manejo en Galápagos. Pg. 17-23.
- Reck, G. (1986) Personal notes from Bellavista agricultural fair, Feb 1986.
- Tropicos.org. (2017) Database of Missouri Botanical Garden. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 06 Oct 2017 <http://www.tropicos.org
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Spinacia oleracea", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=276. Accessed 13 November 2026.