Botanical Name : Basella alba Linn. var. rubra Stewart.
Family : Basellaceae
Names in different Indian languages :
English : Indian Spinach
Hindi : Poi, lalbaclu
Kannada : Bansali
Malayalam : vashalacheera
Sanskrit : Upodikaa
Tamil : Vaslakkirai
Telugu : Baccali
Synonyms :
B. rubra Linn
Upodikaa, Potaki, Maalvaa, Amritvallari
Morphology :
Basella alba is a fast-growing, soft-stemmed vine, reaching 10 metres (33 ft) in length. Its thick, semi-succulent, heart-shaped leaves have a mild flavour and mucilaginous texture.
Action & uses :
Demulcent, diuretic, laxative
Chemical constituents :
It is rich in vitamins A and C, iron and calcium, arginine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, threonine
