Trichosanthes
Botanical name: Trichosanthes
Trichosanthes
Botanical name: Trichosanthes
Species of Trichosanthes
Chinese cucumber
This perennial plant is a climbing species that grows wild in bushlands, fields, and forest edges in China, Mongolia, and Vietnam. Chinese cucumber fruit is edible, and often pickled, and the leaves and roots can be processed and cooked. Oil expressed from the seeds can be burned in lamps.
Snake gourd
Japanese snake gourd
The japanese snake gourd is a tropical vine grown for its elongated fruit. It is eaten raw as a vegetable in Asia, and the mature scarlet pulp of this plant is used as a tomato substitute. When dried, the fruit can also be utilized to make soap.
Trichosanthes laceribractea
Trichosanthes laceribractea grows in dense forests or valleys. As a vine, it can climb upward on other trees or rocks, producing white flowers with fringes that can be easily recognized. After the flowers wither in late autumn, it produces small green fruits with white spots. When the fruit ripens, it turns into large red oval-shaped fruits that are always consumed by some wild animals.
Trichosanthes homophylla
Snake gourd
Snake gourd is so-named because this climbing plant grows elongated snake-like gourds that can grow up to 2 m long. These gourds are harvested when young and eaten both cooked and raw. A pulp forms around the seeds inside the mature gourds which is used as a tart ingredient in curries. The shoots and leaves of the plant are also eaten.
Scientific Classification
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