Indian-spinach (Basella alba, Sp. pl. 1:272. 1753)

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}