Spinacia L.

Latin spina, referring to the prickly seeds.

Annual or biennial herbs. Sexes on separate plants, males in spikes, parts in 4s or 5s; females axillary with bracts that enlarge to encompass the fruit.

Seed.

3 species from E Mediterranean to W Asia.

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Chenopodiaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Caryophyllanae
order      Caryophyllales
family       Amaranthaceae
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
species         Spinacia oleracea L.