UTILIZATION AND COMPOSITION OF ORIENTAL VEGETABLES 9 
stead of the usual green. Although only recently introduced for 
development by the station the variety is already in local demand. 
Chinese spinach is sold on the market in the seedling stage in 
rather large cylindrical bunches about 6 to 12 inches across. The 
individual plants are 4 to 12 inches long. 
To prepare for the table. — Wash thoroughly 1 bunch Chinese 
spinach. Remove the roots and cut the leaves in 2-inch lengths. Put 
in a heated pot V/ 2 teaspoons peanut oil, a little garlic, and 1 teaspoon 
salt ; add the vegetable. Stir for one-half minute, then add one-half 
cup water and cook for 15 minutes. Serve hot. 
Chives (Allium schcenoprasum) . (Fig. 6) 
Chinese name : Kui-choi 
Japanese name: Nira 
Leaf: Slender, cylindrical, hollow, and flattened at the tip; 6 to 8 inches 
long : one-fourth inch wide. 
Color: Green to dark green, with or without white bulbous base. 
Odor: Onionlike. mild. 
Chives is a hardy herbaceous perennial which grows in a thick mass 
resembling a tuft of grass (5, p 287). It is indigenous to Europe 
and Asia. Chives is packed for the local market in bunches about 
6 to 12 inches long and 4 inches wide. It is used in flavoring the 
numerous mixed vegetable dishes so common among the people of 
the Orient. 
Coeiandee (CorUmdrum sativum). (Fig. 7) 
Chinese name : Yuen-sai 
Japanese name : Koyendoro 
Leaf: Pinnately or ternately decompound, broadly ovate with margins deeply 
incised ; 1 inch long ; three-fourths inch wide ; upper surface dull dark green ; 
lower surface, light green, very glossy, and smooth. 
Petiole: Short, 2 to 2% inches long, with upper surface grooved. 
Stem: Round, smooth. 
The plant is a glabrous annual, and its home is in southern Europe. 
The tender seedlings 3 to 6 inches long are used for the table. 
They are packed in bunches of 24 or more. Coriander is an all- 
season crop and is used for seasoning and for garnishing. 
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). (Fig. 8) 
Chinese name: Pu-knng-ying 
Japanese name: Tampopo (Tanpopo) 
Leaf: Basal. 3 to 9 inches long; lance shaped; deeply and irregularly lobed 
and toothed with divisions pointed toward the base; young leaves partly hairy; 
light to dark green. 
Petiole: Short and margined. 
The dandelion, although considered a weed, is an excellent salad 
and potherb and is used by the people of both the Occident and the 
Orient. Several varieties of dandelion have been perfected for use 
in place of the common variety. 
For market from G to 12 young plants are packed in small bunches 
with or without the large, broad, deep-yellow flowered heads. 
