Description

Basella alba, a fleshy, twining perennial herb of the family Basellaceae, is native to tropical Asia and the Indian subcontinent, where it is cultivated extensively as a leafy vegetable across Kerala, West Bengal, and Assam. The plant thrives in humid, well-watered environments, producing thick, ovate leaves and dark purple berries along twining stems. Known regionally as Pui saag in Bengali and Poi in Telugu culinary traditions, its mucilaginous foliage has been incorporated into dietary and traditional health preparations across South Asia and equatorial Africa. Some Ayurvedic regional references associate the plant with cooling, demulcent properties. It is also cultivated ornamentally for its deep red-stemmed variety.