Striped cucumber, Native Bryony
Diplocyclos palmatus

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a pumpkin family plant. It is a slender climbing plant with angular stems. The stems are weak but the lower part can be somewhat woody. It can climb to 2-4 m high. The stems are angular and grooved. The rootstock is fleshy. The leaves have 3 or 5 lobes divided like fingers on a hand and are 10-15 cm wide by 6-17 cm long. There are fine teeth on the top edges of the leaves and the leaves are angular. The leaves are rough on top but smooth underneath. The leaf stalks are 3-9 cm long. The stem has tendrils which have 1 or 2 branches. Flowers are small and yellow or green. Male and female flowers are separate but often together near a leaf. Often one or two female flowers are surrounded by several male flowers. The fruit is 4 cm long and green with pale streaks along it. The leaves and stems give off a bad smell when damaged.

The seeds are used as medicine in Nepal. There are 3-5 Diplocyclos species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It occurs on the coast in Papua New Guinea and grows up to about 1000 m above sea level. It Africa it grows to 1,830 m above sea level. It needs a well drained soil and can grow in a sunny or partial shady position. The plant also grows in Africa, India, Malaysia, China and Australia. There are a couple of subspecies. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Central Africa, China, Congo, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, North Africa, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten, cooked. CAUTION The fruit are claimed to be poisonous. It is considered to be poisonous in Australia, but is eaten in India and Nepal. It probably needs to be well cooked. The young fruits are occasionally cooked and eaten.

A reasonably common wild creeper in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea and many tropical countries. Leaves are used in the Gazelle Peninsula. Because of its poisonous components, its use as a food should probably not be encouraged.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, caution, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Aattupudal, Ba-da, Ban kakra, Bankarela, Ghungarubhaji, Kavdoli, Kongakonga, Korek kotok, Kuniyanchappu, Lollipop climber, Luongluan chan-vit, Mahadevpind, Malaipusanni, Shanker-vel, Shivlingi, Sivalingakkai, Sivalingi, Tendu, Uvakandasopu

Synonyms

Bryonia affinis Endl.; Bryonopsis affinis (Endl.) Cogn.; Bryonia lacinosa L.; Bryanopsis lacinosa (L.) Naud.; Bryonia palmata L.; Bryonopsis pancheri (Naudin) Naudin; Ilocania pedata Merr.; Trichosanthes muelleri Cogn.; Zehneria erythrocarpa F. Mueller;