Chinese spinach can mean any of several plants grown as leaf vegetables in China :Amaranthus dubius,, often bearing red or purple marks Amaranthus tricolor Capsella bursa-pastoris, "shepherd's purse", Ipomoea aquatica semi-aquatic with hollow stems and long, lance-shaped leaves. Known as kangkong in South-East Asia, sold as "Ong Choy" or "On Choy" in West Coast North American Chinese markets. Malabar spinach, with thick, succulent, heart-shaped leaves