Spinach, palak in Hindi, is a cool-season leafy green domesticated in Persia and carried east and west by traders. It is the base of palak paneer and palak dal. In parts of India, the palak sold in markets is spinach beet, a leafy form of Beta vulgaris, rather than true spinach. Spinach is rich in vitamin K, folate and oxalate.
- Botanical name
- Spinacia oleracea L.
- Family
- Amaranthaceae
- Tamil
- Spinach
- Hindi
- Palak
- Sanskrit
- Pālakyā
- Parts used
- Leaves
- Habit
- Cool-season rosette green; Indian palak is sometimes spinach beet
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Spinach
It is a fast-growing annual that forms a rosette of smooth or crinkled, dark green leaves.
The leaves are arrow-shaped to oval, on fleshy stalks.
In warm weather and long days it bolts, sending up a flower stalk.
Male and female flowers are tiny and green, usually on separate plants.
Spinach beet has larger, glossier leaves with thicker stalks and regrows after cutting.
Traditional use of Spinach
Kitchen
Palak is blanched and puréed into palak paneer, and cooked into palak dal and pakoras.
North Indian food practice
Kitchen
In Persian cooking spinach is mixed with yoghurt into borani.
Persian food practice
Modern notes on Spinach
Spinach is very high in oxalate, which binds calcium and reduces how much iron and calcium the body absorbs from it.
The story that spinach owes its iron reputation to a misplaced decimal point is itself doubtful.
It supplies vitamin K, folate, beta-carotene and nitrate.
Plants can build up high nitrate when heavily fertilised.
Spinach safety
People with kidney stones should limit spinach. People on warfarin should keep their spinach intake steady. Reheated spinach for infants should be avoided because of nitrate.
Ecology and sourcing
It was domesticated in Persia from a wild ancestor.
It is wind-pollinated.
It grows best in cool weather and bolts in heat.
Related plants
Also in Amaranthaceae
Questions about Spinach
Is palak always spinach?
Not always; it is sometimes spinach beet.
Is spinach a good iron source?
It has iron, but oxalate reduces absorption.
Why does spinach bolt?
Heat and long days trigger flowering.
Is Spinach safe for kidney stone patients?
They should limit it.
Where was spinach domesticated?
In Persia.
Sources
- Spinacia oleracea L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q81464 (Spinacia oleracea)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.