b'SPINACH DEEP-DIVECultivated spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.) is aTHE ORIGIN OF MODERN-leafy vegetable from the familyAmaranthaceae,DAY SPINACH LIES IN which includes other important crops such as beet,ANCIENT PERSIA (TODAY quinoa and amaranth IRAN & SEVERAL BORDERING COUNTRIES). FROM PERSIA, SPINACH WAS INTRODUCED IN INDIA AND THEN IN ANCIENT CHINA AROUND THE YEAR 647 WHERE IT GOT A NEW, ALTERNATIVE NAME PERSIAN VEGETABLE. It is believed that the edible greens maya have originated fromSpinacia tetranda wild edible plant that can still be found in Anatolia today. The first written reference of spinach stems from the Mediterranean region in the medical work of Rhazes, in the 10th century. When it made its way to the Arab Mediterranean, the green vegetable became instantly popular and was considered an essential vegetable in the 12th century, given the name the chieftain of leafy greens. 16IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM'