Gynura species have been used as vegetables for a long time in the tropics, but they are related to Senecio. I am worried about pyrolizidine alkaloids, common in that group of plants (& in Crotalarias, Eupatorium relatives, and the Borage family). Have you noticed Monarch or Queen butterflies sipping at wounded or dead foliage (milkweed butterfly males use these poisons to make a pheromone)? I guess it is all in the dose, but these alkaloids are reported as cumulative liver toxins that cause irreversible damage (which is impressive, as the liver deals with lots of junk and heals itself better than most organs). Even at small concentrations, food use (vs. say medicine) implies greater quantity thus larger doses over time. Since unlike most poisons these don’t appear to be detoxified or expelled, that scares me.

Hi, David,
Thanks for the handout! I know it’s old, but you might want to tweak the information on Chaya – 1st and 2nd paragraphs conflict!
I’m so thankful for your perennial food/food forest/permaculture ideas. All my life, all I’d really seen was the “plan well” philosophy, and it paralyzed me for decades, because I’m indecisive. Now that we’re facing the NEED to grow survival food,thanks to you, last year I FINALLY decided I could “play with the plants” and gave myself room for mistakes, and even to *gasp* poke seeds and plants randomly! I have FINALLY planted some fruit and berry trees and bushes, along with other perennial edibles. Zone 10 is Paradise for all of the above!
Thank you for all the great information, for “sharing” your beautiful family, art, music – and especially God’s Truth – with us!
Blessings!