Solena heterophylla

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A pumpkin family plant. It is a climber which keeps growing from year to year. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are 3.5-17 cm long by 2-14 cm cm wide. They have 3-5 lobes and sometimes deep teeth along the edge. The tendrils can be simple or branched. The flowers are yellow. The fruit are bright red. They are oval.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Nepal it grows between 600-3000 m altitude. In Yunnan in China it grows below 1300 m altitude in secondary forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, NW India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. Unripe fruit are also eaten. They are eaten as a vegetable. The roots are boiled and eaten. They are also dried and ground into flour. The leaves are cooked and eaten.

It is popular.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, roots

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Amantmul, Ban-kakri, Ban kankri, Bir kundri, Cauqua didiep, Gang-gu-long, Golkakari, Golkankri, Gol kakro, Jungli kundri, Kakhari, Kubumki, O-pe-se-dang

Synonyms

Melothria heterophylla (Lour.) Cogn.; Bryonia hastata Lour.; Bryonia nepalensis Seringe; Zehneria umbelllata var. nepalensis (Seringe) C. B. Clarke; Bryonia umbellata Klein ex Willd.; Karivia umbellata (Klein ex Willd.) Arnott; Momordica umbellata (Klein.ex Willd.) Roxb.; Zehneria umbellata (Klein ex Willd.) Thwaites;