vine spinach

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Spinach
• Ceylon-spinach
• Indian-spinach
• Malabar-nightshade
• Malabar-spinach
• vine-spinach
• Ceylon spinach
• Malabar spinach
• buffalo spinach
• climbing spinach
• creeping spinach
• vine spinach

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Basella oleracea var. alba
• Basella oleracea var. rubra
• Basella oleracea var. nigra
• Basella alba var. cordifolia
• Basella cordifolia
• Gandola nigra
• Basella alba var. subcordata
• Basella alba var. subrotunda
• Basella oleracea var. cordifolia
• Basella crassifolia
• Basella oleracea var. ramosa
• Basella nigra
• Basella oleracea var. japonica
• Basella japonica
• Basella lucida
• Basella volubilis
• Basella ramosa
• Basella rubra
• Basella rubra var. virescens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. It further falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales. Finally, its taxonomic hierarchy places it in the family Basellaceae and the genus Basella.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across different climatic zones. In Middle Europe, its presence is noted within the regions of Czechia and Slovakia. Moving toward the West Tropical Africa region, the species is widely distributed. Specifically, it can be found in the nations of Benin, Burkina, and Ghana. Additionally, its habitat extends to the coastal areas of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Basella alba is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse landscapes, particularly within anthropogenic environments (Área Antrópica). This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal tolerance, occupying a wide vertical range that extends from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL. Because it frequently thrives in human-disturbed habitats, it often functions as a pioneer or opportunistic species in cultivated gardens, agricultural fringes, and urbanized areas.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Basella alba is characterized by its status as a perennial species, though its growth pattern can be highly variable depending on environmental conditions. In terms of its biological structure and survival strategy, the plant exhibits a dual life form classification; it functions as a therophyte, completing its seasonal cycles through specific survival mechanisms, while also manifesting characteristics of a chamaephyte. This combination of life forms influences its ability to persist in various habitats and adapt to seasonal changes throughout its developmental stages.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Basella alba is characterized by a growth form primarily classified as a herb or forb, exhibiting a variable degree of woodiness. The plant is terrestrial in its habitat, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. In terms of its physical structure and stature, it displays an obligatory climbing habit, though it can also present as self-supporting depending on the environmental context. The height of the plant is notably flexible, with a minimum recorded height of 1 m and a mean height of approximately 9.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

9.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

variable

Physiology

The physiology of Basella alba is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and its distinct metabolic approach to nutrient acquisition. The leaf structure exhibits significant variability in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a mean of 6 cm, reaching a maximum of 9 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a broad spectrum, starting from a minimum of 2 cm and maintaining a mean of 5 cm, though it can expand to a maximum width of 15 cm. Regarding its nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized biological mechanisms to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for its growth.

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Leaf width mean:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Basella alba is characterized by the development of inflorescences that vary in size, typically ranging from a minimum length of 0.03 m to a maximum length of 0.15 m. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds with distinct physical properties; these seeds exhibit a seed mass that ranges from a minimum of 0.0351 g to a maximum of 0.04 g. On average, the seed mass for this species is recorded at approximately 0.038366667 g, reflecting a relatively consistent reproductive output per individual seed.

Inflorescence length max:

0.15 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.03 m

Seed mass max:

0.04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.038366667 g

Seed mass min:

0.0351 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Basella alba has 4 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Drug design, development and therapy

Fruit

1. International journal of reproductive biomedicine

Root

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Stem

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Chemicals

Basella alba has 45 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ascorbic acid, 1-Heptatriacotanol, 1-OCTADECENE, Ash, CA.

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Drug design, development and therapy

1-Heptatriacotanol

1. Drug design, development and therapy

1-OCTADECENE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CA

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

GLUTAMIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

HEXANE

1. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Basella alba has 394 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Hypocholesterolemic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy research
3. Nutrients
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. 3 Biotech
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Hypocholesterolemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adjuvant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Basella alba has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hypercholesterolemia, Diabetes mellitus, aphthae, atherosclerosis, boils.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations