Basella alba
L.
Indian spinach
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What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Tender stems, Vegetable
Edible Parts: Leaves Shoots Edible Uses: Colouring Tea Leaves and stem tips - raw or cooked. A pleasant mild spinach flavour, the leaves can be used as a spinach or added to salads. Do not overcook the leaves or they will become slimy. The mucilaginous qualities of the plant make it an excellent thickening agent in soups, stews etc where it can be used as a substitute for okra, Abelmoschatus esculentus. A nutritional analysis of the leaves is available. An infusion of the leaves is a tea substitute. The purplish sap from the fruit is used as a food colouring in pastries and sweets. The colour is enhanced by adding some lemon juice. References More on Edible Uses Composition Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food. Leaves (Dry weight) 275 Calories per 100g Water : 0% Protein: 20g; Fat: 3.5g; Carbohydrate: 54g; Fibre: 9g; Ash: 19g; Minerals - Calcium: 3000mg; Phosphorus: 0mg; Iron: 0mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Potassium: 0mg; Zinc: 0mg; Vitamins - A: 50mg; Thiamine (B1): 0.7mg; Riboflavin (B2): 1.8mg; Niacin: 7.5mg; B6: 0mg; C: 1200mg; Reference: Notes:
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It occurs mostly in the tropical lowlands and is best below 500 m but will grow up to about 1600 m. in the equatorial tropics. It will grow quite well in the temperature range 15-35°C. It does not like water-logging but can survive 4-12 weeks drought once well established. It requires adequate water during the growing season. It grows well in a variety of soils. The best pH is 5.5-7.0. It cannot tolerate salty conditions. Flowering does not occur when day lengths are over 13 hours. It is found throughout the Philippines in waste places. It can grow in arid places. In XTBG Yunnan.
Africa, Algeria, Amazon, Andamans, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canary Islands, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, China, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Ghana, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Lesser Antilles, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, South Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia,
How to Identify
An annual or perennial climbing herb with thick fleshy leaves. The vine is smooth and juicy and can be 10 m long. It branches freely. The vine and leaves can be red or green. The leaves are fleshy and pointed at the tip. They can be 8-18 cm long and 8-10 cm across. They are carried alternately along the vine. Leaves can be heart shaped or oval. It has white, pink or red flowers in short spikes which are in the axils of the leaves. Flowers have both sexes. The fruit are round and soft. They can be red, white or black and are 6-8 mm across. The seeds are round and black. They are 3 mm across. (Often the ones with heart shaped leaves are called Basella cordifolia, the ones with a red stem Basella rubra and the short day flowering dark green kind called Basella alba.)
How to Grow
It can be sown from seeds or cuttings. Seeds germinate in a few days. Normally sticks are provided for support or it is allowed to grow over fences and stumps. If seeds are used, 3 kg of seed will sow one hectare and they are best sown in a nursery and transplanted. A spacing of 1 m is suitable. Plants grown from seed are more productive than from cuttings. When cuttings are used, 20-25 cm long cuttings are suitable. Where the plant grows over light soil it can root at the nodes and continue growing continually. Partial shade, rich fertile soil and adequate moisture favour abundant leaf production. It is responsive to nitrogen fertiliser. Light shade gives bigger leaves. It requires a trellis to climb over. Frequently picking off the bud encourages branching.
Propagation: Easy from seed or cuttings.
Medicinal Uses
Antidote Aperient Astringent Demulcent Diuretic Dysentery Febrifuge Laxative Rubefacient The roots are astringent. They are cooked and used in the treatment of diarrhoea. A paste of the root is applied to swellings and is also used as a rubefacient. The leaves and stems are cooked and eaten for their laxative properties. The leaf juice is a demulcent, used in cases of dysentery. It is also diuretic, febrifuge and laxative. The leaf juice is used in Nepal to treat catarrh. A paste of the leaves is applied externally to treat boils and sores. The flowers are used as an antidote to poisons. The plant is febrifuge, its juice is a safe aperient for pregnant women and a decoction has been used to alleviate labour. The red juice of the fruit is used as eye drops to treat conjunctivitis.
Other Uses
Dye A red dye is obtained from the juice of the fruits. It has been used as a rouge and also as a dye for official seals. Agroforestry Uses: The plant can be grown on living stakes, usually on a fence or on a hedge. Ceylon spinach can be used as a ground cover to prevent soil erosion and as a climbing plant to shade other crops. It also enhances biodiversity by attracting beneficial insects. Other Uses The juice of the fruits yields a red dye . The dye has been used as a rouge, an ink, for colouring foods and also as a dye for official seals. 1. Nectary - Flowers rich in nectar and pollen: Yes – The flowers of Basella alba attract pollinators, making them beneficial for local ecosystems. 2. Wildlife - Food (Fruit, Seeds, Leaf litter, Shelter, Nesting, Roosting): Yes, the leaves and stems are edible for humans and various wildlife. The plant’s dense growth can provide some cover for small creatures, but it is not primarily a nesting or roosting site. 3. Invertebrate Shelter (Overwintering sites, Leaf litter, Groundcover): Yes – Basella alba’s foliage can provide some shelter for invertebrates, although it is not specifically known for overwintering sites. 4. Pest Confuser (Smell): No – While it may have some aromatic properties, Basella alba is not primarily recognized for repelling pests or confusing them with its smell. Special Uses
Wikipedia
Source ↗Basella alba is a perennial vine in the family Basellaceae. It is also known by common names including Malabar spinach, vine spinach, Ceylon spinach, alugbati and Indian spinach. The plant is native to Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and New Guinea and naturalized elsewhere. It has a number of culinary uses.
Production
It is 4-6 weeks until the first harvest. It grows reasonably well on poor soils and is fairly resistant to pest and disease. Leaves will only store for one day at 20-30°C. Yields of 40 kg of leaves from a 10 metre square bed is possible over 75 days. Leaves are plucked from the vine.
Other Information
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It has been encouraged and accepted in some coastal areas of Papua New Guinea. Leaves are sold in local markets. It is popular in East Tanzania.
Notes
Chemical composition (after Hooper): Water = 92.00% (fresh). Fat = 6.87% (dry). Albumenoids = 20.42% (dry). Carbohydrates = 32.90% (dry). Fibre = 11.55% (dry). Ash = 28.27% (dry). Nitrogen = 3.27% (dry). Phosphoric acid = 1.32% (dry). Silicates = 6.70% (dry). The nutritive value of the leaves and young shoot is very high in terms of minerals and vitamins. It is gently laxative and slightly medicinal.
Names & Synonyms
Adwera, Akan, Alogbati, Alugbati, Ama, Amut, Aworoke, Bacchalikoora, Bambee, Ban-poi, Basle soppu, Bayam malabar, Boamassaagu, Boroboro, Busum-muru, Caruru, Cejlonska špinača, Ceylon spinach, Chakai, Chan Cai, Chan-Choi, Chra-long, Chunlueng, Chinese callalloo, Delega, Dundula, Enderema, Enderenta, Epinard pays, Espinaca de Malabar, Gandola, Gendola, Genjerot, Ghogboloki, Ginbeik, Inderema, Inika, Inki, Kattupasali, Kurakura, Kurekure, Libato, Luo kui, Maghi, Maifrai, Malabar nightshade, Mayal, Mndele, Mong toi, Mong toi, Mwifrai, Myal-ki-bhaji, Ndelama, Ndelema, Ndera, Nderama, Ndoge, Niviti, Pabang, Pak pang, Pak plang, Pang, Pasalai, Pasali-Kirai, Phakpang, Phak plang, Pichko, Po deng chaai, Poaya, Poi sag, Poi, Poikivel, Poinwel, Poro, Puin, Pui-shak, Rachan, Rat-nivithi, Remayong, Ronga pui sak, Ronga puroi sak, Saan choi, Shan ts'oi, She eje, Shivappluvaslakkira, Shoro, Sufed-bachla-ki-bhaji, Suped-bachla, Taka ngola, Tembayung, Tsuru-murasaki, Vasalachapu, Vasala dagu, Vine spinach
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