Fat-cracklings fruit
Hodgsonia heteroclita

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A large climber. The vines can be 20 m long. The inter-nodes are 10-20 cm long. They are 8-12 cm wide. The tendrils have 2-5 branches. The leaves are oval or heart shaped and have 5 parts like fingers on a hand. The leaves are 15-20 cm across. The lobes are oval and taper to the tip. The leaf stalks are 6-10 cm long and twisted. The flowers are yellowish-white. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. The male flowers are in groups of 2-7 in the axils. The female flowers occur singly. They have 5 lobes and long twisted fringes. The fruit are 12-18 cm long and 20-26 cm across. The are pale red-brown. The skin is thin and firm and the pulp is spongy and juicy. There are 6 seed sacks in a group. They are 7-10 cm long and 5-7 cm wide. There are 1-3 seeds. They are flattened and have wings.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It is native to the eastern Himalayas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Caution: The raw seeds are poisonous. The seeds are roasted and eaten as a nut. The seeds are used for extracting oil. The young leaves are used as a vegetable.

The roasted seed is a delicacy. It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Seeds - oil, nuts, seeds, caution, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Er pi duo luo, Geng gua mei biu, Ghui phal lahara, Kathior-pat, Man mo, Mei-soh-mynthar, Nang-mu, Pai, Wettha-kauk

Synonyms

Hodgsonia heteroclita (Roxb.) Hook. f. & Thomson; Trichosanthes heteroclita Roxb.;