Malabar spinach (Basella alba) is a leafy green vegetable belonging to the family Basellaceae, native to the tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. It is not a true spinach but is used in a similar manner in culinary applications. The plant is known for its succulent, mucilaginous leaves and stems, which are rich in vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium. Malabar spinach thrives in warm climates and is often grown as an annual in temperate regions. It is commonly used in Southeast Asian, Indian, and Chinese cuisines, where it is stir-fried, added to soups, or used in curries. In Hebrew, Malabar spinach is known as Basella alba or Tarkhina Malabar (תרכינה מלבר). In Malayalam, a language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala, it is called Pachai Cheera (പച്ച ചെറ). In Chinese, it is referred to as Xian Hong Sheng (仙红生). The plant is also known as Ceylon spinach in English and Vallarai Keerai (வல்லாரை கீரை) in Tamil.
Species of edible plant
Basella alba is an edible perennial vine in the family Basellaceae. It is found in tropical Asia and Africa where it is widely used as a leaf vegetable. It is native to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and New Guinea. It is naturalized in China, tropical Africa, Brazil, Belize, Colombia, the West Indies, Fiji and French Polynesia.