Red hailstone, Manchu Tuber Gourd
Thladiantha dubia
Family: Cucurbitaceae
What it is like
A pumpkin family plant. It is a climbing plant. It has yellow hairs. The roots are fattened as tubers. The stem is robust and angular. The leaves are oval or heart shaped and 5-8 cm long by 4-9 cm wide. There are irregular teeth along the edge. It has simple thin tendrils. Male flowers can occur singly or in groups and female flowers are single. The fruit is oblong and succulent. It is orange to yellow. It is oval and 4-5 cm long by 3 cm wide.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. In north China it grows on the edges of forests and in valleys between 300-1,800 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Slovenia
How it is used for food
The young fruit are occasionally eaten. The young shoots are eaten. The carrot like roots are eaten.
Edible parts
Fruit, leaves, root
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Hegerin huanggua, Navadna zmečkanka, Red bone vine, T'u kua, Wang kua