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Basella alba - Indian Spinach

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Basella Alba

Basella Alba is a botanical name of Indian Spinach. As name suggests this plant belongs to India and China. Basella alba is known under various common names, including Malabar Spinach vine spinach, red vine spinach, climbing spinach, creeping spinach, buffalo spinach and Ceylon spinach among others.

Uses

Dysentery, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Catarrh, Boils, Conjunctivitis, Pimples, Diarrhea, Sore throats

Parts Used

Leaves, Stem.

Chemical Composition

Protein (20%), Fat (3.5%), Carbohydrate (54%), Fibre (9%) and Ash (19%). [1]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada Bansali
Hindi Poi
Malayalam Vasalaccira
Tamil Vasalakkirai
Telugu Bachali, Bachchali-kura, Karubachali
Marathi NA
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit Upodika
English Indian spinach, Malabar Spinach


Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent)

Guna

Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Sharp)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Kapha, Pitta

Prabhava

Habit

Perennial Climber

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Simple The leaves are divided into 3-6 toothed leaflets, with smaller leaflets in between

[2]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Unisexual 2-4cm long Yellow 5-20 Flowers Season is June - August

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
7–10 mm (0.28–0.4 in.) long pome clearly grooved lengthwise, Lowest hooked hairs aligned towards crown With hooked hairs {{{6}}}

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Can be easily grown from seeds and cuttings. Basella alba is a plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres.[3]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Moist places in hedges, Elevations around 500 metres in Nepal.

Photo Gallery

References

External Links