Malabar Spinach
Basella alba L. rubra
This fascinating succulent climber has many names: Basella, Malabar Spinach, Ceylon Spinach, Climbing Spinach, Indian Spinach, Red Vine Spinach, Pasali, Pu Tin Choi and Malabar nightshade just to mention a few.
Basella is a perennial plant, but outside tropical regions it is grown as annual. Basella is cultivated in all regions of India, it is also well known in Mauritius, the Philipines, Burma and many other countries.
In the kitchen garden, Basella is most popular. The leaves can be used raw, as tea or cooked as replacement for spinach.
Basella is also widely used as an ornamental plant. Just take a look at the small flowers: This is art!
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