Basellaceae

The family Basellaceae includes 4 genera with 15–20 species, distributed mainly in South and Central America (especially in the Andes). The largest range is in the genus Basella, two species of which occur in tropical Africa, three species in Madagascar, and a sixth (a pantropical species) is found in the tropics of both hemispheres.

Basellaceae are twining (counterclockwise) perennial herbs with annual shoots and perennial rhizomes, often tuberous or bearing branches with tubers. The presence of bicollateral vascular bundles (intraxylary phloem) in the stems is characteristic. Leaves in all species are alternate, entire, without stipules, usually fleshy, and contain mucilage cells. Flowers are in terminal or axillary panicles, racemes, or spikes, small, mostly bisexual, actinomorphic, apetalous, with a calyx of 5 often colored and more or less fused sepals and with two bracteoles, usually forming an involucre beneath the calyx, sometimes creating the appearance of a double perianth. Stamens 5. Gynoecium lysicarpous, of 3 carpels, with partially fused styles; ovary with a single basal ovule on a short stalk. Fruit a berry or drupe, surrounded by the persistent calyx, often fleshy. Seeds with an annular or spiral embryo surrounding a mealy perisperm.

In the genus Basella, the best known is the pantropical Basella alba, also called Malabar spinach. This small herbaceous plant is cultivated in many tropical and subtropical countries, and on Cuba and in South America it has even become naturalized. The leaves and shoots of Basella alba, which remain fresh (due to their mucilage content) for several weeks, are used as spinach and for making soup, and an infusion of the leaves serves as a beverage. In folk medicine this plant is used as a mild laxative and to refresh wounds and soften abscesses.

In the Andes of South America up to 3,800 m above sea level grows ulluco, or tuberous Basella (Ullucus tuberosus) — a plant with prostrate, sometimes slightly twining shoots. The tubers, similar to potatoes, have long been an important food for the inhabitants of highland Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. They are very rich in starch, but also contain mucilage and are less tasty than potatoes. Tubers remain fresh for only about two months, so they are first frozen and then pressed to remove water. This produces the product chuño, which stores for a long time. Ulluco tubers have been found in ancient Peruvian tombs.

In representatives of the tribe Anrederae the staminal filaments are curved outward. In the single genus Anredera, which in modern taxonomy also includes Boussingaultia, there are up to 10 species, distributed from southern USA and the West Indies to Argentina, and also on the Galápagos Islands. The leaves of Anredera are also edible, and the very small tubers, containing much mucilage and tasteless, are a cheap food for indigenous peoples. Some species are well known as twining ornamental plants used for vertical greening, especially in countries with hot dry summers, for example in southern Europe. Anredera scandens, which ranges from Texas to Peru, is a graceful herbaceous climber with winged bracts at the fruits. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant.