Malabar spinach, Basella alba, is a popular green leafy vegetable in other parts of the world. Basella japonica Burm.f. Gandola nigra (Lour.) Growth Form: Short-lived perennial creeping or climbing vine with stems up to 2-6 m long. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles. Leaf paste of Basella Alba is advantageous for treating Ulcers and Abscesses. Basella alba, or Malabar Spinach, is a vigorous climbing vine, a frost-tender perennial grown as an annual, native to tropical regions in Asia. Basella rubra L. Common Name(s): Ceylon spinach [English] Taxonomic Status: Current Standing: accepted Data Quality Indicators: Record Credibility Rating: ... Basella alba : Source: NODC Taxonomic Code, database (version 8.0) Acquired: 1996 : Notes: Reference for: Basella alba When grown for ornamental purposes, grow it on a fence or lamppost or other structure. It can be grown as an annual… Browse Succulents by Malabar Spinach or Indian Spinach, Basella alba, is an annual or perennial climbing herb with red or green vines and leaves. Scarify seed to hasten germination. REFERENCES General Bibliography + REFERENCES Complementary / Specific . The seeds are round and black. India, Central Africa, Brazil, Guiana, Coastal Southeastern United States. Plants may also be allowed to simply trail along the ground. It will root where the stems touch moist soil. Flowers are bisexual, red or white in lax peduncled spikes. Basella alba L. 'Rubra' ... All botanical names including the word rubra would then be considered former synonyms of the cultivar name. The roots are astringent. ... Basella alba L. is an accepted name The Plant List: Other vernacular names: ARABIC: Malabar. The variety Basella rubra has red flowers and a bright purple- red stem; both alba and rubra are edible but the green leaved cultivars that are commercially cultivated, belong to the Basella alba. The website also provides access to a database and images of herbarium specimens found at the University of South Florida and other herbaria. Basella crassifolia Salisb. The succulent leaves and stems are used as a vegetable, either raw in salads or cooked in soups, salads, stir-fry or as a pot herb for stews. Foliage: Leaves are ovate to cordate (egg-shaped to heart-shaped) with a slightly wavy leaf margin (5-15 cm long, 4 … ex L. Homonyms Basella alba L. Common names Malabar spinach (Basella alba or Basella rubra) is not a true spinach, but rather a climbing vine in a class by itself. rubra L., Basella alba L. 'Rubra' CHINESE : Hong chan cai (Cantonese Hung shan tsoi), Hong teng cai (Cantonese Hung tang tsoi), Zi luo kui, Zi ruan teng, Zi bei teng cai. Provided by Smithsonian Institution, Richard A. SYNONYM(S) : Basella rubra L., Basella alba L. var. Seed may also be planted directly in the garden at the last spring frost date. Related to and differentiated from Basella alba, which has darker green leaves, green stems and white flowers.Fast-growing and grown in economic or vegetable gardens for food and as ornamental. The fruits are round and soft, and can be red, white, or black in color. click on a thumbnail to view an image, or see all the Basella thumbnails at the Plants Gallery ©Richard A. Howard. Basella alba. Country of Origin: Trop. The Atlas of Florida Plants provides a source of information for the distribution of plants within the state and taxonomic information. As a vegetable, pick leaves and stems as needed for use in soups, salads, stir-fry or as a pot herb for stews. Scientific Name : Basella Alba Common Name : Malabar Spinach Source : Leaves & Seeds Composition: Flavonoids, Saponins, Caretonoids &Natural vitamins Applications : Hemorrhages, Ulcers Easily grown from seed. This is a fast-growing tropical vine that, if trained on a support, will rise to 6' tall in a single season. Basella lucida L. Basella nigra Lour. Propagation Seeds. It can be grown as an annual, leafy vegetable for the cultivation of its edible, spinach-like stems and leaves or as an ornamental foliage vine. This tender perennial native to tropical Asia, likely India and Sri Lanka or Indonesia (hardy only to zone 10), is easily grown as an annual during the heat of summer. Basella volubilis Salisb. The Garden wouldn't be the Garden without our Members, Donors and Volunteers. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status. Tolerates light shade. The website also provides access to a database and images of plants photos and herbarium specimens found at … It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 23 - 27°c, but can tolerate 10 - … Infusion of the leaves is a tea substitute. Basella ramosa J.Jacq. names considered synonyms" A single plant can have a hundred common names because a common name can be applied by anybody...there is no authority to check what a 'true common name' is... "Basella alba L. 'Rubra' for all the names referring to the colour red appears logical to me." Basella alba, commonly called Malabar spinach, is native to the East Indies. It needs warm temperatures to germinate and will grow quickly once temperatures get hot. Fruit sap is used as a food coloring in pastries and sweets. Basella rubra L. Basella rubra var. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles. Basella or vine spinach is a popular tropical leafy-green vegetable, commonly grown as a backyard herb in home gardens. Hardiness USDA zone 9 - 11. Basella alba is a fast-growing, soft-stemmed perennial vine up to 33 feet (10 m) long. Basella alba is a plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres. It tolerates high rainfall and fairly poor soils but does much better in rich soils. Culture Full sun / … Basella alba, commonly called Malabar spinach, is native to the East Indies. Other common names include Vine Spinach, Red Vine Spinach, Creeping Spinach, and Ceylon Spinach. As an ornamental, you can enjoy the glossy green leaves and red stems in ornamental plantings on posts, fences, hanging baskets or large containers. Basella alba, or Malabar Spinach, is a vigorous climbing vine, a frost-tender perennial grown as an annual, native to tropical regions in Asia. The Alabama Plant Atlas is a source of data for the distribution of plants within the state as well as taxonomic, conservation, invasive, and wetland information for each species. Improves Digestion. Basella cananifolia is an invalid name for B. alba (The Plant List, 2013). Even though it’s not a true spinach, it has the same taste. Native Range: Tropical Africa and tropical Asia. Common name: Ceylon spinach Other common names: Country spinach, Indian saag, Malabar nightshade, Malabar spinach, Indian spinach, East Indian spinach, Slippery vegetable, Vietnamese spinach, Vine spinach. The colors of this plant pair well with beets, swiss chard, kale, ornamental kale, red and purple flowers. Malabar Spinach requires a well-drained moisture-retentive soil rich in organic matter and a warm sunny sheltered position. The plant is well-adapted to high temperatures, even into the 90s F., but growth is disappointing when temperatures stay below 80 F. This spinach will produce in weather too warm for other spinach varieties, but soil must be kept moist. When grown as a vegetable, train it on a sturdy trellis or other support. Dietary fiber intake is … It is popularly known as Indian spinach, Malabar spinach or Country spinach. Basella cordifolia Lam. The plant typically grows to a six-foot vine, but can often reach 30 feet in length. Plants are intolerant of frost and do not perform well if summer temperatures consistently dip below 59 degrees F. at night. Small purple-white flowers may appear at the end of the summer (plants will not flower until daylight decreases to less than 12 hours per day).Genus name comes from the Latinized version of the vernacular name.Specific epithet means white. Arogbati (Bik.) Plant database entry for Malabar Spinach (Basella alba 'Rubra') with 30 images, one comment, and 23 data details. Scientific names : Common names : Basella alba L. Alugbati (Bis.) Basella alba (Plant family Basellaceae) is an edible, fleshy, perennial, climbing creeper. Plant Name: Basella alba Common name: Marathi: Mayallu Hindi: Poi English: Malabar spinach, Indian spinach Jawhar: Mayalu Interesting facts and history Some special property: Like spinach, Basella alba also contain oxalic acid which is a naturally occurring substance found in some vegetables. It is a vigorous, climbing, tropical vine that may be grown in St. Louis as (1) an annual leafy vegetable for cultivation of its edible spinach-like stems and leaves or (2) as an ornamental foliage vine. Asia Description: Basella alba is a … iNaturalist: Basella alba IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Basella alba JSTOR Plant Science: Basella alba Kew Herbarium catalogue: Basella alba Mansfeld … Diseases, Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or pests. Dry soil or extremely high temperatures will cause flowering, which leads to bitter leaves. It is very sensitive to frost and cool temperatures. White, pink, or red blossoms in short spikes and are located in the leaf axils. Despite common names, the foliar resemblance and similar usage in food, plant is not a true spinach. NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to The leaves and stems are cooked and eaten for their laxative properties. ENGLISH : Red Ceylon spinach, Red-stemmed Malabar spinach, Red vine spinach. Basella cordifolia Lam. This is a very common process in bamboo nomenclature for example. Dundul (Sul.) Gandola rubra Rumph. Basella or vine spinach is a popular tropical leafy-green vegetable, commonly grown as backyard herb in the home gardens.. Vine-spinach belongs to the Basellaceae family and has two chief cultivars, Basella alba, which features green- stems and deep-green leaves, and Basella rubra with purplish stems and dark green leaves with pink veins. Read our Commitment to Diversity | Read our Privacy Statement. Basella (vine spinach) nutrition facts. In Zone 7 and warmer, direct seed 2 to 3 weeks after last frost date. Leaves and stems are a good source of Vitamins A and C, calcium and iron. Because the plant can grow rapidly, you should provide a sturdy trellis or fence for it to grow on that can do double duty as a decorative focal point in a bed or for screening. Start seed indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost date. Basella alba L. 'Rubra' . The Plants Database includes the following 1 species of Basella . The leaves are arranged alternately, to 12 cm in length, oblong/ovate with an acute/obtuse leaf apex and cordate leaf base. Although in a different family than spinach, the leaves taste like spinach and, unlike spinach, the plants thrive in hot summer weather. ex Spreng. Basella japonica Burm.fil. … It is a vigorous, climbing, tropical vine that may be grown in St. Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Basella alba L.. Common Names: Country Spinach, Malabar Spinach Family: Basellaceae Habit: Basella alba grows as a succulent vine up to 10 m in length. iNaturalist: Basella alba IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Basella alba JSTOR Plant Science: Basella alba Kew Herbarium catalogue: Basella alba Mansfeld … In Uganda, vine spinach is common in a number of markets. N.C. Grow in rich, fertile, moisture-retentive soils in full sun. Raf. Gandola rubra Rumph. Malabar Spinach is an excellent source of dietary fiber. Native Introduced Native and Introduced Leaves can be used to thicken soups and stews in addition to using raw or cooked like other spinach. The flower is inconspicuous. Basella alba (Malabar Spinach) is a fast-growing, soft-stemmed, perennial vine up to 33 feet (10 m) long. FRENCH : Baselle rouge, Epinard de Malabar à tiges rouges. Basella crassifolia Salisb. form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Basella alba "Red Malabar" L. Common Name: Malabar Spinach Family: Basellaceae Moq.-Tand. A red dye is obtained from the juice of the fruits of the 'Rubra' cultivar. "My problem is matching common names with 2 different bot. Use a slow-release fertilizer. The leaves are thick, semi-succulent, fleshy, pointed at the tip, and arranged alternately along the vine. 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