Topic started by ak (@ 132.235.18.122) on Wed Nov 26 08:31:50 EST 2003.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

bachhala kura (telugu) refers to a dark,green,thick,leafy vegetable. it has palm sized leaves. it is used in dal or to make bhajia,,
does anyone know what is the english equivalent of it?

Responses:

• From: Hemant Trivedi (@ 203.195.208.26) on: Wed Nov 26 10:30:23 EST 2003
  
  Bacchala Kura is known as Spinach in English. In Hindi it is Palak
  
  
• From: ak (@ 132.235.18.122) on: Wed Nov 26 11:08:02 EST 2003
  
  Hemant, I think you may be mistaken; palak/spinach (palakura in telugu) is not what I was trying to describe. generally, palak/spinach is comparitively thin with long, triangular leaves and doesn't have a very thick stem, whereas bacchala kura has a thick leaves and stem, a very veinous texture,very dark green,and broad leaves, the size of ur palm. it's slightly pungent to taste (not quite bland as spinach). Pls correct me if i'm wrong, regards, AK
  
  
• From: Hemant Trivedi (@ 203.195.208.26) on: Wed Nov 26 12:55:23 EST 2003
  
  Hello AK,
  No , I am not mistaken because, what you are describing is Palak as it is available in Madras.
  If you come to Bangalore , you get Palak which is thin and has no body .The leaves are not so brittle as Madras variety.And the leaves are a little cone shaped. Madras variety has very large leaves and are thick and brittle.
  It is possible that both are one and the same thing.So believe me we are talking of the same thing.
  
  
• From: ak (@ 132.235.18.122) on: Wed Nov 26 13:17:41 EST 2003
  
  Hemant, u're possibly right; there is some confusion in the language terminology i guess, hopefully someone who is familiar with the telugu terms might be able to make the distinction between bacchala kura and the 2 varieties (small,thin leaves & large, brittle leaves) of palakura, in english. thnx, AK
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache138.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Wed Nov 26 14:15:20 EST 2003
  
  Anything more would only add to the confusion! But I hope not! So here we go:
  
  Spinach is a common name for greens of many kinds. But most often refered to Basella alba (syn Basella rubra). Wild spinach refers to a green, Chenopodium album. Chinese spinach refers to a species of Amaranthus sp. called thandukkeerai or mulaikkeerai in Tamil.
  
  Comming to Indian vernacular names - we have here Palak - Hindi and Bachala - Telegu, to figure out = a job that I am not quite qualified to perform as I not versed in Hindi nor Telegu. Buy anyway this is what we have!
  
  1. Basella alba Stewaret (syn Basella rubra Linn) Basellaceae
  Common English Name: Spinach (sometimes Indian spinach)
  Tamil: Pasalai keerai
  Telegu: Bachali
  Hindi: pOi, lAlbAclu
  View pictures at: for more pictures google images for 'Basella'
  http://botany.cs.tamu.edu/FLORA/dcs420/mi07/mi07087.jpg
  http://botany.cs.tamu.edu/FLORA/dcs420/mi07/mi07090.jpg
  
  2. Chenopodium album Linn - Chenopodiaceae
  Common English Name: Wild Spinach
  Tamil: paruppu keerai, chakravarthi keerai
  Telegu: (don't know)
  Hindi: bEttusAg, candan-bEtu
  View pictures at:
  http://www.yhc.edu/academicprog/dept/ms/bio/chenopodium.jpg
  http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/lindman/351.jpg
  http://www.sdnhm.org/valentien/images/cheno-album-350.jpg
  
  3. Beta vulgaris Linn. Chenopodiacea
  Common English Name: Beetroot
  Tamil: Sencheerai
  Telegu: (don't know)
  Hindi cukkandAr, pAlak <-------------- note
  View Pictures at:
  http://botany.cs.tamu.edu/FLORA/pic1/whtchard.jpg
  http://botany.cs.tamu.edu/FLORA/dcs420/fa02/fa02008.jpg
  http://botany.cs.tamu.edu/FLORA/dcs420/a/hdw16050030s.jpg
  http://botany.cs.tamu.edu/FLORA/dcs420/a/hdw16050027s.jpg
  
  It is my opinion that Telegu Bachala - refers to 'Basella rubra'! What would you pick?
  
  
  
• From: Abu Baba Bill (@ 63-64-10-91.evv.dialup.sigecom.net) on: Sun Nov 30 16:19:14 EST 2003
  
  If the leaves are very large and grow upward from an erect, sturdy central stalk, and the overall appearance of the plant somewhat resembles tobacco, the green you are talking about may be sold in seed catalogues as "broad leaf mustard greens," and is very commonly grown in the southern parts of the U.S. The seeds will be very small and round and resemble any common mustard seed.
  If however the seeds resemble little globs of rough clove heads, then the plant is in the beet family and you may be looking for something we call Swiss Chard. It comes in a white stalk variety and a red stalk variety and the leaves taste like beet greens. Swiss Chard is grown for the leaves only, and has no substantial root bulb like a beet. The leaves are generally about a foot long, six inches wide at the most, and very destinctly veined like beet leaves.
  
  
• From: AK (@ dhcp-018-122.cns.ohiou.edu) on: Thu Dec 4 16:50:16 EST 2003
  
  Hello Idiappam, thanks a lot for ur detailed clarification, i would also pick 'Basella rubra' for Bachhali, that's what i had in mind,,btw, i came across this site 'http://www.tropilab.com' which has good pics, nutrition and details of many vegetables and buy the seeds to grow in the U.S. as well. Regards, AK
  
  
• From: Idiappam (@ cache138.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Sat Dec 6 10:01:13 EST 2003
  
  Hi, AK, thank you for that link. I will go there and see!
  
  
• From: ddd (@ cpe00e06f241fd5-cm00e06f241fd4.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com) on: Sat Dec 6 21:37:03 EST 2003
  
  Hiii
  
  I know what is bacchali kura n how different it is from pala kura but sorry i don't know what it is called in english. i will let u know once i find out.
  
  sony
  
  
• From: Ramesh (@ 216-41-71-227.gis.net) on: Fri Jan 16 12:38:34
  
  Where can I find English Names for all Telugu vegetable names. And for groceries too/.
  
  
• From: The homebound (@ adsl-68-79-60-153.dsl.emhril.ameritech.net) on: Fri Jan 16 15:20:30 EST 2004
  
  Does someone know what "thota kura" is in English ?
  
  
• From: AK (@ dhcp-018-221.cns.ohiou.edu) on: Fri Jan 16 17:00:58 EST 2004
  
  Thota kura is Amaranthus spinosus in english,
  u can see photos on :
  http://botany.cs.tamu.edu/FLORA/dcs420/fa02/fa02010.jpg
  http://botany.cs.tamu.edu/FLORA/dcs420/fa02/fa02011.jpg
  http://botany.cs.tamu.edu/FLORA/dcs420/fa02/fa02012.jpg
  >>
  this website has a lot of info on names in diff languages: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/faminefoods/ff_families/AMARANTACEAE.html
  >>
  AK
  
  
• From: The homebound (@ adsl-68-79-49-225.dsl.emhril.ameritech.net) on: Sat Jan 17 15:54:52 EST 2004
  
  Would you know if it wud be available in the markets in USA ? If yes, under what name ?
  
  
• From: vinay (@ nic-169-c226-174.twmi.rr.com) on: Fri Jul 16 06:35:45
  
  Bachala kura is 'Malabar Spinach' and it is a vine.
  
  
• From: Luren Chetty (@ ) on: Wed Jul 28 22:47:32
  
  Hi , sorry for getting of the topic. I would like some clarification to the following surnames( which are telegu or tamil)
  Naidoo, Chetty.PLEASE reply to my email address
  
  
• From: VKBBR (@ c-24-131-100-97.mw.client2.attbi.com) on: Mon Aug 2 19:30:27 EDT 2004
  
  I think Collard Greens is totakura.
  
  the interesting part was to know that 'Basella rubra' is bachala aaku.
  
  thanks a lot for the info
  
  

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