Common name
Malabar Spinach
Local name
Velbendi
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Caryophyllales |
| Family | Basellaceae |
| Genus | Basella |
| Species | alba |
General habitat
It commonly grows in thickets, by forest border, in plains, and in scrub jungle.
Distribution in India
- Assam
- Bihar
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Maharashtra
- Tamil Nadu
Morphology
It grows in the form of a shrub. Flowers are white, pink, or red in short spikes and are located in the leaf axils. Flowering occurs during the months of December and January The fruits are round and soft, and can be red, white, or black in colour. ; fruiting takes place during February and March.
Medicinal Properties
Astringent – the cooked roots are used in the treatment of diarrhea. The cooked leaves and stems are used as a laxative.
Other Uses
It is extensively used in cooking, which adds vitamin C and A to people’s diets.
References
Basella alba L., India Biodiversity Portal.
Biodiversity at FLAME University 