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[[File:Map Basella alba.gif|thumb|distribution in Africa (planted and naturalized)]]
[[File:Linedrawing Basella alba.gif|thumb|flowering and fruiting shoot. Source: PROSEA]]
[[File:Basella alba 226 GG.jpg|thumb|]]
[[File:Basella alba 315.jpg|thumb|]]
[[File:Basella alba 9760.jpg|thumb|]]
[[File:Basella alba GG II28A.JPG|thumb|]]
plant with red twigs, climbing a banana tree; crop for seed production
close up of shoots
infructescence, fruits covered by fleshy perianth
leaves
<big>''[[Basella alba]]'' L.</big>
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Basella alba'' (PROTA)}}
:Protologue: Sp. pl. 1: 272 (1753).
== Synonyms ==
*''Basella rubra'' L. (1753), *''Basella lucida'' L. (1759), *''Basella cordifolia'' Lam. (1783).
== Vernacular names ==
Ceylon spinach, vine spinach, Gambian spinach, Malabar nightshade, Indian spinach (En). *Baselle, brède de Malabar, épinard indien, brède d’Angola (Fr). *Bacela, bertalha (Po). *Mboga buterezi (Sw).
== Origin and geographic distribution ==
== Description ==
*Short-lived perennial herb up to 4(–8) m long, succulent; stem twining, slender, smooth, green or purplish. *Leaves alternate, simple, fleshy; stipules absent; petiole up to 9 cm long; blade ovate to heart-shaped, 2.5–15 cm × 2–12.5 cm, usually cordate at base, acute or acuminate at apex, dark green or purplish. *Inflorescence an axillary spike up to 22(–30) cm long, hanging, with long peduncle. *Flowers bisexual, regular, 5-merous, sessile, 2.5–6 mm long, white, pink or purple; perianth fleshy, urceolate, remaining closed; stamens inserted near apex of perianth tube; ovary superior, 1-celled, ovoid, style with 3 linear stigmas. *Fruit a subglobose pseudo-berry 4–7(–10) mm in diameter, enveloped by the fleshy perianth, purplish black, containing a violet juice, 1-seeded. $Seed globose, c. 3 mm in diameter, dark brown to black. *Seedling with epigeal germination; cotyledons large; first leaves opposite, later ones alternate.
== Other botanical information ==
''Basella'' comprises 5 species, 3 of which are endemic to Madagascar and 1 to eastern Africa. ''Basella alba'' can be confused with ''Anredera cordifolia'' (Ten.) Steenis, which is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental in tropical Africa. The latter can be distinguished by its slender racemes of pedicellate, non-fleshy flowers.
== Growth and development ==
== Author(s) ==
* M.O. Abukutsa-Onyango , Department of Horticulture, Maseno University, P.O. Private Bag, Maseno, Kenya
== Correct citation of this article ==
Abukutsa-Onyango, M.O., 2004. '''Basella alba''' L. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Grubben, G.J.H. & Denton, O.A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>.
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[[Category:PROTA]]
[[Category:Vegetables (PROTA)]]
