Does it have a red stem?

Does it look like this?
{{gwi:383604}}

{{gwi:383605}}

It's a fast-growing vine. You pick the leaves, wash them and stir-fry with a little bit of ginger and sesame oil for a minute. A common dish in Taiwan.

Here is a link that might be useful:

chicogirl,

Do the photos of the leaves resemble the leaves of the plant you're talking about? The plant above is a fast growing vine.

Also, your link is in Asian characters. There is no English or any photos.

Yes, violet. I had typed in the Chinese characters in order to find the photos.

Can you see the photoes at this link?
http://www.dtps.tp.edu.tw/sg1/plant.htm

The fourth photo from left is the one I was talking about. You can enlarge the photo by clicking on it.

I am not sure about the name of this vine:
(Madeira-vine) Anredera cordifolia(Ten.)Steenis

Thank you, the URL worked. Here's the photo:
{{gwi:383606}}

Yes, this is known as Malabar Spinach (Basella alba syn Basella rubra) in the states and is what I posted in the photos above.

There are different varieties and you can choose from a red or green stem. And red or green leaves.

Anredera cordifolia (madeira vine) is an edible weed similar to ceylon spinach but with a smaller edible leaves and small edible tubers.

{{gwi:383608}}
{{gwi:383610}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Evergreen Seeds: Malabar Spinach

ah, thank you. i actually don't think it's malabar spinach, because it doesn't look quite like it---it looks a lot more like the madeira vine. that would explain the arguments between different people about whether or not it's even called "tswan chi," though...so am i to assume that "tswan chi" means malabar spinach?
thank you so much for the help!

Ivy Gourd (Coccinia grandis) ???

Ivy Gourd leaves would not be mucilaginous when cooked and they're also not thick enough in this case.

I don't think "tswan chi" is malabar spinach. The leaves are similar, but the flowers are different:

Madeira-vine (Anredera cordifolia¡]Ten.¡^Steenis)
= "tswan chi", "teng san chi", or "yang luo kuei"

http://www.yctsayl.idv.tw/html/9d/9d001.htm
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/leontsai&article_id=7383586

Propagation: by cutting or bulblets, the plants rarely set seeds
http://www.tndais.gov.tw/Veggie/E10.htm
http://goods.ruten.com.tw/item/show?11070212191297

-----------------------------------------------------------

Malabar Spinach or Ceylon spinach (Basella rubra)
= "Huang Gong Tsai" (means Emperor palace vegetables) or "luo kuei"

Propagation: by cutting or seeds
http://www.yctsayl.idv.tw/html/9d/9d000.htm

chicogirl,

You'll find that this information was stated above in the 6th post down.

Madeira Vine: Anredera cordifolia = "tswan chi"
Malabar Spinach: Basella alba

They are similar because they are both part of the Basella Genus. But they are different species within that genus meaning they can not cross breed.

Yes, violet you are right :-)
Madeira Vine: Anredera cordifolia = "tswan chi"
Malabar Spinach: Basella alba

I was trying to answer bwv544's question:
"so am i to assume that "tswan chi" means malabar spinach?"

The flowers and bulblets are the easier ways to tell if it was "tswan chi".

chicogirl,

Ah... got it. So what are the visible differences in the flowers and bulbs? Isn't the Anredera cordifolia stem red? And the other not?

Since iVillage took over GardenWeb, it doesn't allow a direct link that comes from forign countries. That's way the web link was failed in the third post.

You just have to copy and paste these URL in order to see the flower pictures:

Madeira Vine: Anredera cordifolia = "tswan chi"
http://www.yctsayl.idv.tw/html/9d/9d001.htm

Malabar Spinach or Ceylon spinach (Basella rubra)
http://www.yctsayl.idv.tw/html/9d/9d000.htm

The flowers of "tswan chi" have longer spikes.
Also "tswan chi" use bulblets and Malabar Spinach use seeds for propagation.

Yes, the Anredera cordifolia stem is red. The Mallabar Spinach stem is usually green, but that's beaucse only the green variety has introduced from Thailand and commercially avaiable in Taiwan.

http://www.nongyehu.com/2010/0518/12637.html

http://www.arthurleej.com/p-o-m-June07.html

it is called Teng San Qi (vine 3 7) literally in chinese

This is called Green Stem Malabar Spinach or Red Stem Malabar Spinach.
Also known as Indian Spinach or Celylon Spinach.
Eat is raw or boiled. Very good for you I eat the purple seeds as well just pick them off the vine.