Basella alba

Indian spinach

Family Basellaceae

Basella alba, Indian spinach (Bas. alba 1), is a perennial, twining herb with alternate, ovate and rather fleshy leaves, up to 15 cm long. The small white flowers are borne in axillary spikes.

Use
The plant is of Asian origin and is grown throughout the tropics for its stems and leaves which are used as spinach. The closely related Basella rubra has reddish leaves.