A very strange plant, the Chaya or Mayan Spinach tree is a tropical shrub native from Mexico to South America. A member of the euphorbia family, a milky sap is exuded by the stems and leaves. There are two forms. One has broad, maple-lobed leaves and stinging hairs. The Estrella form has more deeply-lobed, dissected leaves without stinging hairs. The leaves of the latter can be boiled and eaten like spinach. They are high in iron and vitamins. However, they must be boiled for at least 10-15 minutes to leach out a harmful cyanide compound.