Basella alba (L.) is an extremely heat tolerant, fast growing perennial vine which belongs to family Basellaceae. It is commonly known as Malabar spinach, Ceylon spinach, vine spinach, climbing spinach. It is native to tropical Southern Asia. It is particularly abundant in Malaysia, Philippines, tropical Africa, tropical America, southeast of Brazil.
The plant is a perennial twining herb. Stem fleshy, 8-10 m, stout at the base with slender upper branches. Leaves axillary, 5-12 cm long, dark green, broadly ovate, acute. Flowers sub sessile, white pink or red. Fruit black or dark purple, enclosed with persistent fleshy calyx. Seeds black, globose.