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The study investigated the nutritive elements of four species of Basella and two other commonly eaten vegetables (Amaranthus hybridus and Talinum triangulare). The vegetables are found throughout the year. The mineral compostion of the vegetables was carried out using standard procedures to determine which of these would be of more health benefit to the consumers. Leaves were collected at the initiation of flowering and air-dried under shade for 7 days after which they were kept in an oven at 60oC for 24 hours. These dried materials were mechanically powdered and stored in airtight containers until used for analysis. The phosphorous content of the vegetables ranged from 83.95±0.01 to 136.30±0.01 mg/100g. The potassium content ranged from 733.20±17.7 mg/100g to 4084.20+0.03 mg/100g. Sodium content in the vegetables ranged from 89.25±0.04 to 241.50±0.02 mg/100g. Zinc content ranged from 8.00+2 mg/100g to 28.90+4 mg/100g. The mineral contents of the Basella forms are comparable to Amaranthus hybridus and Talinum triangulare. Overlap observed in the values of the nutrient elements suggests interspecies relationship. Copper was present in Basella rubra and Amaranthus hybridus, while Molybdenum was absent in all. This study revealed that the consumption of these vegetables is dependent on the dietary need of the users.

This paper reports on the survey carried out among consumers on the uses of Indian spinach in Ondo State, Nigeria. Well-structured questionnaires were prepared and one hundred (100) questionnaires were randomly distributed to consumers in each of the 16 local government areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. Result showed that there are more female respondents (59.4 %) than the males (40.6%). This could have resulted from the fact that women make more informed decision on food security in homes. Most consumers are civil servants. Most consumers prefer Indian spinach to other commonly consumed vegetables and their choice is based on availability and taste. Basella, could be cooked sole, mixed with grounded seeds of egusi (Citrillus lanatus) or other vegetables. Respondents noted that Indian spinach contains carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and nutrient elements. They also noted that all the parts are useful (leaves, stems and roots) and they are useful in treatment of various ailments in folk medicine. This paper documents consumers' knowledge on Basella because information on consumers' knowledge of agriculture products is scarce. The researcher derived information on the genus Basella, uses and future prospect of the genus in the study area.