Family: Basellaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. pl. 1:272. 1753
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Basella
Vegetable: True
Observations: Trop. Asia
Description
Indian-spinach, known scientifically as Basella alba, is a flowering plant native to tropical Asia. Rooted in the Basellaceae family, this robust and versatile plant plays a significant role in various culinary and medicinal practices across its native range.
Indian-spinach is a vigorous, fast-growing vine that can stretch over considerable lengths, often utilizing trellises and supports to reach for sunlight. Its heart-shaped, fleshy leaves are notable for their vibrant green color and succulent texture, making them a popular choice in numerous Asian cuisines. These leaves are not only a feast for the eyes but also packed with essential nutrients, contributing to their status as a staple leafy green in many diets.
Cultivation of Basella alba is relatively straightforward, adapting well to a range of soil types and thriving in the warm, moist conditions typical of tropical climates. It’s a resilient plant that can be grown year-round in regions where the climate remains consistently warm. This adaptability has made it a valuable crop for home gardeners and commercial growers alike.
Beyond its culinary uses, Indian-spinach boasts a range of medicinal properties. In traditional medicine, it is often employed for its anti-inflammatory and laxative effects, and it’s sometimes used to soothe skin irritations when made into a poultice. The plant’s rich content of vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium further underscores its health benefits, making it a nutritious addition to the diet.
In summary, Indian-spinach (Basella alba) is a multifaceted plant with a significant presence in tropical Asia. Its culinary versatility, ease of cultivation, and potential health benefits make it a noteworthy species within the Basellaceae family.
Common Names
Eng: ceylon spinach, ceylon-spinach, indian spinach, indian-spinach, malabar-nightshade, malabar-spinach, vine-spinach, spinach
Dan: indisk spinat, malabarspinat
Deu: malabarspinat
Swa: mboga buterezi
Por: bacela, bertalha
Fra: baselle, brède d’angola, brède de malabar, épinard de malabar
Spa: espinaca blanca, espinaca de malabar
Swe: malabarspenat
En: Indian-spinach, Vine-spinach, Malabar-nightshade, Malabar-spinach, Ceylon-spinach, Ceylon spinach, Malabar spinach, Indian spinach, Spinach, Common Stonewort
Ar: بازيلاء بيضاء
Bn: পুঁই শাক
Bg: Бяла базела
My: ကင်ပိမ့်ပင်
Ca: Espinac de Ceilan
Zh: Luo kui, 落葵
Cs: Bazela bílá
Da: Indisk spinat, Malabarspinat
Eo: Blanka baselo
Fi: Malabarinpinaatti, Malabarinpinaattio
Fr: Baselle, Brède d’Angola, Brède de Malabar, Épinard de Malabar, Baselle blanche, Brède malbar
De: Malabarspinat, Indischer Spinat, Weiße Beerblume
Ht: Bazèl
Hi: पोई
Ja: Tsuru-murasaki
Kn: ಬಸಳೆ
Ko: 말라바시금치
Ms: Lembayung malabar
Ml: വള്ളിച്ചീര
Mr: मायाळू
Or: ପୋଇ
Pl: Wyćwiklin biały
Pt: Bacela, Bertalha
Pt-br: Bertalha, Bretalha
Ru: Базелла белая
Sa: पोतकी
Si: Nivithi
Es: Espinaca blanca, Espinaca de Malabar, Espinaca China, Basella alba, Acelga trepadora, Alcaparra, Espinaca de Ceilan, Espinaca de Nueva Zelandia
Sw: Mboga buterezi
Sv: Malabarspenat
Tl: Libato
Zh-tw: 落葵
Ta: பசளி
Th: ผักปลัง
Zh-hant: 落葵
Tr: Çin Ispanağı
Vi: Mồng tơi
Synonyms
- Basella alba var. subrotunda (Moq.)
- Basella rubra (L.)
- Basella japonica (Burm.f.)
- Basella oleracea var. ramosa ((J.Jacq. ex Spreng.) Alef.)
- Basella ramosa (J.Jacq. ex Spreng.)
- Basella cordifolia (Lam.)
- Basella crassifolia (Salisb.)
- Basella oleracea var. alba ((L.) Alef.)
- Basella oleracea var. nigra ((Lour.) Alef.)
- Basella alba var. subcordata (Hassk.)
- Basella lucida (L.)
- Basella oleracea var. cordifolia ((Lam.) Alef.)
- Basella cananifolia (Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.)
- Basella nigra (Lour.)
- Basella rubra var. virescens (Moq.)
- Basella alba var. cordifolia ((Lam.) M.R.Almeida)
- Gandola nigra ((Lour.) Raf.)
- Basella oleracea var. rubra ((L.) Alef.)
- Basella oleracea (Alef.)
- Basella volubilis (Salisb.)
- Basella oleracea var. japonica ((Burm.f.) Alef.)
Distribution
- Bangladesh (native)
- Borneo (native)
- Cambodia (native)
- India (native)
- Jawa (native)
- Laos (native)
- Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
- Malaya (native)
- Maluku (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- New Guinea (native)
- Philippines (native)
- Sri Lanka (native)
- Sulawesi (native)
- Sumatera (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Andaman Is. (introduced)
- Angola (introduced)
- Belize (introduced)
- Benin (introduced)
- Brazil Southeast (introduced)
- Burundi (introduced)
- Cameroon (introduced)
- Central African Repu (introduced)
- Chad (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Christmas I. (introduced)
- Colombia (introduced)
- Congo (introduced)
- Cook Is. (introduced)
- Cuba (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- Ethiopia (introduced)
- Fiji (introduced)
- Florida (introduced)
- Gilbert Is. (introduced)
- Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
- Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
- Guyana (introduced)
- Hainan (introduced)
- Haiti (introduced)
- Hawaii (introduced)
- Ivory Coast (introduced)
- Jamaica (introduced)
- Japan (introduced)
- Kenya (introduced)
- Leeward Is. (introduced)
- Malawi (introduced)
- Mauritius (introduced)
- Mozambique (introduced)
- New Caledonia (introduced)
- Nigeria (introduced)
- Puerto Rico (introduced)
- Rodrigues (introduced)
- Rwanda (introduced)
- Réunion (introduced)
- Senegal (introduced)
- Society Is. (introduced)
- South China Sea (introduced)
- Southwest Caribbean (introduced)
- Sudan (introduced)
- Suriname (introduced)
- Tanzania (introduced)
- Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
- Uganda (introduced)
- Windward Is. (introduced)
- Zambia (introduced)
- Zaïre (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken Oct 5, 2022 by Hasani Hassan (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 23, 2021 by ifp660 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 18, 2021 by Anas Khan (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 31, 2020 by Coqueiro Taize (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 31, 2020 by Coqueiro Taize (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Sep 15, 2020 by Dome0815 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 16, 2022 by J.P. Becker (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 11, 2021 by msa888 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 22, 2021 by István Gudmann (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 5, 2013 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Jul 11, 2020 by Matt Ray (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 21, 2021 by Aro Federico (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 20, 2021 by A van der Ryst (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 30, 2022 by Andrea Indino (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 16, 2019 by Ria Goedecke-Kuny (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jan 30, 2021 by Prakash Rudraraju (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 16, 2022 by Flor Alex (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 5, 2013 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 30, 2022 by amandine escarguel (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 29, 2017 by richard gautier (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Sep 15, 2020 by Martin Austin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 20, 2021 by Ute Seebauer (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 1, 2022 by Yousha Aleayoub (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 16, 2022 by Alexandros Galanidis (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 18, 2020 by narendra Surya (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Aug 31, 2022 by Brasil Bruno (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3083504)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:164286-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Basella alba L.)
Specifications
Growth habit>: Vine, Forb/herb
Growth
Sowing: Direct seed. If planting indoors, harden off before transplanting seedlings outside.
Row spacing: {‘cm’: 30}