Trichosanthes

Trichosanthes

Trichosanthes tricuspidata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Cucurbitales
Family:	Cucurbitaceae
Subfamily:	Cucurbitoideae
Tribe:	Trichosantheae
Subtribe:	Trichosanthinae
Genus:	Trichosanthes L.
Species
See text.
Synonyms
Anguina Mill. Cucumeroides Gaertn. Eopepon Naudin Involucraria Ser. Platygonia Naudin

Trichosanthes is a genus of tropical and subtropical vines. 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 shoots, tendrils, 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 commercially for their fleshy fruits used as vegetables, 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 (Chinese: 瓜蒌; pinyin: guālóu). Trichosanthes is also known as a medicinal as well as poisonous plant in India. The herb has shown an ability to reduce chest congestion by breaking down phlegm and aiding in its removal from the lungs.^[1]

Selected species

Trichosanthes baviensis Gagnepain
Trichosanthes cucumerina – Serpent gourd, Padwal; karasuuri[烏瓜] (Japanese); dhunduli (Assamese); chichinga/chichinge (Bengali); paduvalakaayi (Kannada); padavalanga (Malayalam); purla (Sambalpuri); pathola (Sinhala); Pudol, Kurattai OR Sauri (Tamil); potlakaaya (Telugu)
- Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina – Snake gourd
Trichosanthes dioica – 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 kirilowii – "gualou" (China) (= T. japonica)
Trichosanthes laceribractea Hayata
Trichosanthes lepiniana (Nuad.) Cogn.
Trichosanthes montana Rugayah
Trichosanthes pedata Merr. & Chun
Trichosanthes pendula Rugayah
Trichosanthes pilosa (Ser.) Maxim in Franch. & Sav. - Japanese snake gourd
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.

References

↑ Kate Wright (2009). "Natural Anti-Viral Support for Coughs and Congestion". Nutrition Review 4 (4).

External links

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