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Basella: The Versatile Vine Spinach
The genus Basella offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of leafy-green vegetables and their diverse uses. Commonly known as vine spinach, it's a popular choice in tropical regions for home gardens.
Considerations for Pets
- Basella alba is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
- Basella rubra has dark-purple fruits.
Considerations for Children
- Basella alba is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
- Basella rubra has dark-purple fruits.
Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- Scientific Name: Basella rubra L.
- Type Genus: Basella is the type genus of the plant family Basellaceae.
- Family: Basellaceae
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Synonyms:
- Basella oleracea Landw.
- Basella lucida L.
- Basella japonica Burm.f.
- Basella cordifolia Lam.
- Basella nigra L.
- Basella crassifolia Salisb.
Common Names
- Vine Spinach
- Ceylon Spinach
- Malabar Spinach
- Saan Choy (Chinese)
- Mong Toi (Vietnamese)
- Alugbati (Philippines)
- Pui Saag
- Indian Spinach
- Climbing Spinach
- Gui
- Acelga Trepadora
- Bretana
- Red Vine Spinach
Distribution and Habitat
Basella is native to tropical regions. Three of the five known species are endemic to Madagascar, while Basella alba is native to India and widely distributed throughout the tropics.
Morphological Characteristics
- Basella alba is a perennial climber, growing up to 9 meters (approximately 29 feet).
- Stems can be green or red, fleshy, and glabrous.
- Leaves are thick and fleshy, similar in taste to spinach.
- Flowers can be white, rose, pink, or purple, followed by dark-purple fruits.
- Petiole is 1-3 cm.
Quirky Facts
- In the West Cameroon region, Basella alba has been traditionally used to address sexual asthenia and infertility in men.
- The red-stemmed version (Basella rubra) is reportedly milder in flavor than the green version (Basella alba).
Uses and Benefits
- Commonly used as a leafy-green vegetable.
- In traditional medicine, Basella alba is used for various purposes, including the treatment of apthae (mouth ulcers) in southern India.
- Extracts of Basella alba are being explored for potential benefits to skin and skin conditions.
- Daily consumption may have a positive effect on total-body vitamin A stores.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Basella alba is often used alongside Hibiscus macranthus for fertility purposes.
- Studies have evaluated the antimicrobial activities of extracts from Basella rubra leaves.
Additional Resources
- The Plant List: Provides a comprehensive list of scientific plant names.
- USDA Food Composition Database: Offers nutritional information on vine spinach (basella).