Chinese snake gourd, Mongolian snake gourd
Trichosanthes kirilowii
Family: Cucurbitaceae
What it is like
A pumpkin family plant. It is a vine up to 3-10 m long. It climbs. The leaves have 3-5 lobes. They are slightly rough underneath. The flowers are white. The fruit are red or orange. They are 7-11 cm long.
It is used in medicine.
Where it is found
A subtropical or temperate plant. It grows in open forests and grasslands between 200-1,800 m above sea level in China.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Cambodia, China, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, SE Asia, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The starchy root, is peeled, cut into slices, soaked in repeated changes of water for five days until they disintegrate, and then mashed to a pulp which is made into steamed cakes. The pulp of the fruit is also eaten cooked. The young buds are boiled and eaten as a vegetable.
Edible parts
Fruit, leaves, oil, root, seeds
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Bacbat, Chosen-karasu-uri, Haneultari, Ki-karasu uri