Basella alba L.

Eriksson, R. (2007). A Synopsis of Basellaceae. Kew Bulletin, 62(2), 297-320. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20443356

Type

Nepal, Mahakali Zone, Kanchapur District, 15 mi W of Dhangarhi, 7 Dec. 1966, Nicolson 2848 (neotype BM, designated by Sidwell 1999: 563; isotype US).

Morphology General Habit

Twining vine or sometimes procumbent to erect herb

Morphology Stem

Stem glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaf blades 3 - 15 x 2.5 - 12 cm, often cordate, or sometimes ovate to broadly elliptic, at base cordate to cuneate or attenuate, at apex acute to somewhat acuminate or obtuse

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 1 - 20 cm long, unbranched or sometimes with few branches, with stout and fleshy axis

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles well -developed, ovate to triangular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers not sunken into rachis, cleistogamous or sometimes chasmogamous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 3.5 - 5.5 x 2 - 2.5 mm at anthesis, up to 7.5 mm long in fruit, equalling petals in length, ± erect, ovate to elliptic, connate at base or up to c. 1/2 of their length, at anthesis white to reddish, in mature fruit purple to black, very thick and juicy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 3.5 - 5.5 x 1.5 - 2.5 mm at anthesis, up to 7.5 mm long in fruit, + erect, ovate to elliptic, connate 1/3 - 2/3 of their length, at anthesis white to reddish, in mature fruit purple to black, very thick and juicy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers pale

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 1, 3-parted almost to the base, or styles 3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit completely and tightly enclosed by persistent, fleshy perianth, appearing drupaceous when fresh, wrinkled when dry, the entire structure up to 7.5 x 10 mm.

Note

The Linnaean names B. alba and B. lucida were neotypified by Sidwell (1999), since no original specimens or illustrations exist. Roxburgh, who was the first author to treat the simultaneously described B. alba and B. rubra as the same species, adopted the name B. alba and consequently established the priority (see Sidwell 1999). Many of the synonymised names were described without specimen citations or from cultivated individuals, and it has not been possible to locate their types. Basella alba is easily identified by its sessile, urceolate flowers with a whitish to reddish perianth that becomes purplish black and fleshy, completely enclosing the fruit. This species is cultivated for its edible, succulent and mucilaginous, leaves. It is easily propagated from both seeds and stem cuttings (e.g. Palada & Chang 2003). A red dye, used for food colouring, is produced from the fleshy perianth (e.g. van Steenis 1957). It is also used in, e.g. ethnomedicine, and can be found as an ornamental pot plant in some countries. Its wide cultivation gave rise to the large number of now synonymised names.

Distribution

Cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide and naturalised after escape. Its native area is unknown, but somewhere in Africa or perhaps Asia seems probable.

Vernacular

Baselle blanche, Ceylon spinach, Indian spinach, Malabar nightshade, and Malabar spinach, just to mention the most commonly used of the more than hundred different names.

Basellaceae, B. L. Stannard. Flora Zambesiaca 9:1. 1988

Morphology General Habit

Plant 1–8 m. tall; stems much branched, sometimes sparsely leaved, sometimes reddish.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves: lamina 2.5–15 × 2.0–12.5 cm., ovate to circular, usually acute or acuminate, sometimes rounded or emarginate at apex, usually cordate at base, entire, lateral nerves 3–4 (5) on either side; petioles 0.5–9 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, long peduncled, usually unbranched spikes, 1.5–22 (30) cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 2.5–6 mm. long, white, pink or mauvish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth somewhat fleshy, urceolate, lobes c. one-quarter length of tube, remaining closed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens inserted near apex of tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 0.5 mm. tall, ovoid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style with 3 linear stigmas, 0.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 4–5 mm. diam., subglobose, black.

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 1500 m.; Andes, Islas Caribeñas, Pacífico.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba, trepadora

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

espinaca, espinaca de enredadera, gallinita

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Basellaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:1. 1954

Morphology General Habit

A climber, cultivated in vegetable gardens; sometimes subspontaneous.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean, Caribbean, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–1500 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Cundinamarca, Nariño, Quindío, San Andrés y Providencia, Valle del Cauca.

Habit

Herb, Climbing.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, artificial - terrestrial.