Ivy gourd, Little gourd
Coccinia grandis

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A pumpkin family plant. It is a climbing or trailing herb. It can climb 20 m high. It has single tendrils. It has long tuberous roots. The leaves are heart shaped, with the lobes towards the base in an angular shape. The leaves are 5-10 cm across. The edges of the leaves are irregular. The flowers occur as male and female flowers on separate plants. The flowers are large and white and occur singly. The fruit is oblong and up to 10 cm long by 2.5 cm across. It is green with white stripes. The fruit become bright red when mature. The seeds are white or light brown. They are hairy and flattened with a broad rim.

It can be invasive. It is illegal to grow it in some places. It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It does well in warm climates. In cold weather, plants remain dormant. They cannot grow in waterlogged soil. Plants grow between 550 and 1600 m altitude in Ethiopia. It requires a well distributed rainfall and a fairly high humidity. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 1,000-1,600 mm. It requires a sandy soil with good drainage and a high level of organic material. In Nepal the plants grow up to 1400 m altitude. In south Vietnam it grows up to 1,500 m above sea level. In the Himalayas in India it grows between 1,200-2,000 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guiana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Micronesia, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Sahel, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South America, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia

How it is used for food

The leaves, shoots, and immature fruits are cooked as a vegetable. Mature fruits are eaten raw. The ripe red fruit are collected, peeled and cut into small pieces and added to porridge. The leaf tips are cooked as a vegetable. They are also used in soups. The leaves can be stored for 10 days. The unripe fruit are cooked as a vegetable. They are used in curries. Sometimes the fruit are candied.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. The fruit are popular. It is not known if it is eaten in Papua New Guinea. It is a cultivated plant in Africa. The seeds are only occasionally chewed. It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, tubers, root, vegetable, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from stem cuttings or tuberous roots. They can also be grown from seeds. Stem cuttings about 12-15 cm long are suitable. The plant needs a trellis to climb over. One male plant to every ten female plants is enough to ensure pollination. A spacing of 150 cm apart is suitable. During dry periods watering is required.

Plants can grow for 3 or 4 years. The yield of fruit can be about 10 kg per plant. In Tanzania the fruit are collected in June to August.

Its other names

Local names

Amballa gosa, Ariapongos, Aroi papasan, Babasa tahan, Baby cucumber, Bak tam nin, Ban kakri, Bana torada, Bankakro, Bat, Belipoka, Bimbika, Bolu teke, Buta, Bwlai, Cheri, Chiloda, Chum bat, Covakai, Covay kai, Donda, Edaldalksin, Enkaiserariai, Gol kakri, Golenda, Golkankri, Golkakari, Golyakakadi, Hong gua, Imondiu, Imore, Jangli kundru, Jangli tondare, Kandaroi, Kanduri, Kapasan, Kattukoval, Kauwa-luli, Khai-khruk, Kimowe, Kimuya, Kiukamapa 'ae 'initia, Koba, Kovai, Kovakai, Kova keerai, Kundari, Kundaru, Kundri, Kundri ja, Kundru, Kunduli, Kunduri, Lacheta, Lyungulyungu, Mad, Ma dian lu, Malual, Maqd, Marr 'had, Mogad, Na odio, Ndegegeya, Ni qi, li po luo, Pak tam lung, Pake, Papasan, Pepasan, Phak tam leung, Phak tam ling, Phak tam nin, Phak tamlueng, Sarap alas, Scarlet fruited gourd, Scarlet gourd, Sleuk bah, Sleuk bas, Sloek Bas, Tala kachu, Tala kucha, Tam ling, Tam lung, Tam nin, Tam-lueng, Tandli, Teingninhi, Telakucha, Telkocha, Tilkakri, Tilkocha, Tindola, Tindora, Tinduri, Tondali, Tonde-konde, Tondli, Tongli, Tudu, Tumlueng, Tunanyira, Vo-ak thoithe, Watani badrang

Synonyms

Bryonia acerifolia D. Dietr.; Bryonia alceifolia Willd.; Bryonia barbata Buch.-Ham. ex Cogn.; Bryonia grandis L.; Cephalandra grandis Kurz; Cephalandra indica (Wight & Arn.) Naud. [Illegitimate]; Cephalandra quinqueloba AUCT. non (Thunb.) Schrad. ex Eckl. et Zeyh.; ? Cephalandra schimperi Naudin; Coccinia cordifolia Cogn.; Coccinia grandis var. wightiana (M. Roem.) Greb.; Coccinia helenae Buscal. & Muschl.; Coccinia indica Wight & Arn., nom. illeg.; Coccinia loureiriana M. Roem.; Coccinia moghadd (Gmelin) Asch.; Coccinia moimoi M. Roem.; Coccinia palmatiseca Kotschy; Coccinia schimperi Naudin; Coccinia wightiana M. Roem.; Cucumis pavel Kostel.; Cucurbita dioica Roxb. ex Wight & Arn.; Momordica bicolor Blume; Turia moghadd Gmelin;