Water Spinach (1968, 1969, 1984)

[Bapopik at AOL.COM]

http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/kitchen/2001fa_spinach.html

   "Water spinach" is not in the OED.  The above is from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.  It wasn't reported in New York until the last few years, but the LOS ANGELES TIMES might have it much earlier.

(JSTOR database)
Developmental Morphology of the Megasporangium and Embryogeny in Ipomoea reptans Poir. and Related Species
Samuel C. K. Chan; Charles J. Hillson
Botanical Gazette, Vol. 129, No. 2. (Jun., 1968), pp. 150-156.
Pg. 150:  The named species, commonly called water spinach, is a very important summer vegetable in China.

   20 December 1969, NEW YORK TIMES, pg. 3:
   The cooperative (near Hanoi--ed.) also raises pigs and chickens, and produces sugar cane, bananas and a kind of water spinach.

   1 February 1984, NEW YORK TIMES, pg. C9:
   Perhaps you are familiar enough with ginger, jicama, coriander and even Chinese white cabbage (bok choy), but would you know bamboo mustard cabbage, angled luffa or water spinach if you saw it or if a recipe required it?