Trichosanthes
Encyclopedia
Trichosanthes is a genus
of tropical and subtropical vine
s. They belong to the cucumber family
(Cucurbitaceae
), and are closely related to Gymnopetalum. Hodgsonia
, formerly included here, is usually considered a well-distinct genus nowadays.
The shoot
s, tendril
s, and leaves
of some or possibly all species may be eaten as greens
, and at least two species (Serpent Gourd, T. cucumerina, and Point Gourd, T. dioica) are grown commerically for their fleshy fruit
s used as vegetable
s, most popular in South Asia
and Southeast Asia
. At least two species (T. kirilowii
and T. rosthornii) are grown for use in traditional Chinese medicine
, where they are called the name gualou . Trichosanthes is also known as a medicinal as well as poisonous plant in India, and has been helpful for asthma patients.
In addition, several hybrids are known in this genus.
Formerly placed in Trichosanthes were for example Kedrostis foetidissima and Linnaeosicyos amara.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of tropical and subtropical vine
Vine
A vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
s. They belong to the cucumber family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbitaceae
The plant family Cucurbitaceae consists of various squashes, melons, and gourds, including crops such as cucumber, pumpkins, luffas, and watermelons...
), and are closely related to Gymnopetalum. Hodgsonia
Hodgsonia
Hodgsonia is a small genus of fruit-bearing vines in the family Cucurbitaceae.Hodgsonia was named for Brian Houghton Hodgson in 1853 by British botanists Joseph Dalton Hooker and Thomas Thomson, who examined the plant under Hodgson's hospitality in the Himalaya.-Classification:*Hodgsonia...
, formerly included here, is usually considered a well-distinct genus nowadays.
The shoot
Shoot
Shoots are new plant growth, they can include stems, flowering stems with flower buds, and leaves. The new growth from seed germination that grows upward is a shoot where leaves will develop...
s, tendril
Tendril
In botany, a tendril is a specialized stem, leaf or petiole with a threadlike shape that is used by climbing plants for support, attachment and cellular invasion by parasitic plants, generally by twining around suitable hosts. They do not have a lamina or blade, but they can photosynthesize...
s, and leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
of some or possibly all species may be eaten as greens
Leaf vegetable
Leaf vegetables, also called potherbs, green vegetables, greens, leafy greens or salad greens, are plant leaves eaten as a vegetable, sometimes accompanied by tender petioles and shoots...
, and at least two species (Serpent Gourd, T. cucumerina, and Point Gourd, T. dioica) are grown commerically for their fleshy fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
s used as vegetable
Vegetable
The noun vegetable usually means an edible plant or part of a plant other than a sweet fruit or seed. This typically means the leaf, stem, or root of a plant....
s, most popular in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. At least two species (T. kirilowii
Trichosanthes kirilowii
Trichosanthes kirilowii is a flowering plant in the family Cucurbitaceae. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it shares the name guālóu with the related T...
and T. rosthornii) are grown for use in traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
, where they are called the name gualou . Trichosanthes is also known as a medicinal as well as poisonous plant in India, and has been helpful for asthma patients.
Selected species
- Trichosanthes baviensis Gagnepain
- Trichosanthes cucumerinaTrichosanthes cucumerinaTrichosanthes cucumerina is a tropical or subtropical vine, raised for its strikingly long fruit, used as a vegetable, medicine, and, a lesser known use, crafting didgeridoos. Common names include snake gourd , serpent gourd, chichinga, and padwal...
– Serpent Gourd, Padwal; karasuuri[烏瓜] (Japanese); dhunduli (Assamese); chichinga/chichinge (Bengali); paduvalakaayi (Kannada); padavalanga (Malayalam); purla (Sambalpuri); pathola (Sinhala); pudalankaai (Tamil); potlakaaya (Telugu)- Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina – Snake Gourd
- Trichosanthes dioicaTrichosanthes dioicaTrichosanthes dioica is also known as the point gourd, parwal , or potol . Colloquially, in India, it is often called green potato. It is widely cultivated in the eastern part of India, particularly in Orissa, Bengal, Assam, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh...
– Point Gourd, parwal (Hindi), potol (eastern India) - Trichosanthes dunniana Levl.
- Trichosanthes fissibracteata C.Y.Wu ex C.Y.Cheng & Yueh
- Trichosanthes globosa Blume
- Trichosanthes homophylla Hayata
- Trichosanthes kerrii Craib
- Trichosanthes kinabaluensis Rugayah
- Trichosanthes kirilowiiTrichosanthes kirilowiiTrichosanthes kirilowii is a flowering plant in the family Cucurbitaceae. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it shares the name guālóu with the related T...
– "gualou" (China) (= T. japonica) - Trichosanthes laceribractea Hayata
- Trichosanthes lepiniana (Nuad.) Cogn.
- Trichosanthes montana Rugayah
- Trichosanthes ovigera Blume (= T. cucumeroides, T. himalensis)
- Trichosanthes pedata Merr. & Chun
- Trichosanthes pendula Rugayah
- Trichosanthes pentaphylla F.Muell. ex Benth.
- Trichosanthes postarii W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes
- Trichosanthes quinquangulata A.Gray
- Trichosanthes reticulinervis C.Y.Wu ex S.K.Chen
- Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms – "gualou" (China) (= T. uniflora)
- Trichosanthes rubiflos Thorel ex Cayla
- Trichosanthes rugatisemina C.Y.Cheng & Yueh
- Trichosanthes schlechteri Cogn. ex Harms
- Trichosanthes sericeifolia C.Y.Cheng & Yueh
- Trichosanthes subrosea C.Y.Cheng & Yueh
- Trichosanthes subvelutina F.Muell. ex Cogn.
- Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. (= T. bracteata, T. palmata)
- Trichosanthes truncata C.B.Clarke
- Trichosanthes villosa Blume
- Trichosanthes wallichiana (Ser.) Wight
In addition, several hybrids are known in this genus.
Formerly placed in Trichosanthes were for example Kedrostis foetidissima and Linnaeosicyos amara.