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Trichosanthes cucumerina

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Trichosanthes cucumerina L.

Family Name: Cucurbitaceae
Synonyms: Trichosanthes anguina L.
Common Name: Snake Gourd, 蛇瓜, 蛇豆, 蛇丝瓜

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form Climber
Lifespan (in Singapore) Perennial, Annual
Mode of Nutrition Autotrophic

Biogeography

Native Distribution Southern and eastern Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and western Pacific
Native Habitat Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal
Local Conservation Status Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only)

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form Annual climber. 
Foliage The leaves are approximately round to bean-shaped with typically about 5 deep, obovate lobes. The leaf underside is densely covered in fine, downy hairs.
Flowers Female flowers occurs singly, while 8-15 male flowers are grouped in a spike-like inflorescence known as a raceme.The petal edge of female flowers is lined with white, tendril-like hairs which unfurl to form a lacy pattern.
Fruit Long, cylindrical or sometimes twisted fruit has smooth skin with tapered ends (1-2 m long, 3-4 cm wide). The seeds are red.
Cultivation Flowering of snake gourd starts about 5 weeks after planting; the male flowers appear first, followed by female flowers about 3 days later. The flower opens in the evening or early morning. In early-maturing cultivars, you can harvest gourds from about 7-15 weeks after planting.
Ethnobotanical Uses Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits, Edible Leaves
Food (Fruit or Vegetable): Immature fruits of cultivated forms are eaten boiled as vegetable. Young shoots and leaves are also edible.
Medicinal: The roots and seeds are used medicinally for treating diarrhea.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses Parks & Gardens, Trellis / Arbour / Pergola
Thematic Landscaping Economic Garden
Plant & Rootzone Preference or Tolerance Remarks It does not tolerate dry soil but is also sensitive to waterlogging. 

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Full Sun
Water Preference Moderate Water
Rootzone Tolerance Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Pruning Prune the lateral branches to promote fruit production.
Propagation Method Seed
Propagation Method Remarks The white or light-coloured seeds are very unlikely to germinate. Seeds should be soaked in water overnight before planting to hasten germination.
Seed / Spore Germination Rate 60%

Foliar

Foliage Retention Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s) Thin
Foliar Modification Foliar Tendril
Foliar Type Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s) Non-Palm Foliage (Orbicular / Round, Reniform)
Foliar Venation Palmate
Foliar Margin Palmately Lobed
Foliar Apex - Tip Acute, Rounded
Foliar Base Auriculate

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious
Flower Colour(s) White
Flower Texture(s) Hairy / Hirsute
Flower Grouping Solitary, Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location Axillary
Inflorescence Type Raceme

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s) Green - Light Green, White
Mature Fruit Texture(s) Smooth
Mature Seed Colour(s) Brown, Red
Seed Quantity Per Fruit Numerous (>20)

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID 31559
Species ID 5958
Flora Disclaimer The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.
Species record last updated on: 12 February 2022.
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