Basellaceae
Basella Family
The Basellaceae family (Basella Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Caryophyllales. It is represented by a single species in the SASYA catalogue. That species is a climber. Several members are valued in traditional medicine.
Browse all 1 species ↓
Thick, fleshy, glossy heart-shaped leaves on succulent twining vines; small flowers lack true petals, showing a fleshy, often pink-tinged calyx instead, and ripen into a small juicy berry that stains deep purple.
Grown widely as a heat-tolerant, mucilaginous leafy green (Malabar spinach) in climates too hot and humid for true spinach to thrive.
To check whether a plant belongs to Basellaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.
Learn the full family-identification methodNotable members
Families that can look similar
Amaranthaceae
Compare against Amaranthaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare AmaranthaceaeCactaceae
Compare against Cactaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare CactaceaePolygonaceae
Compare against Polygonaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare PolygonaceaeAizoaceae
Compare against Aizoaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare AizoaceaeAll 1 species in BASELLACEAE
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