Thladiantha cordifolia

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A vine. It is a climbing plant. It is hairy. The stems are robust, branched and angular. The leaves are oval or heart shaped and 8-15 cm long by 6-11 cm wide. It has simple tendrils. Male flowers occur as 3 or more together and female flowers occur singly. The fruit are oblong and 3-5 cm long by 2-3 cm wide.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows near streams and in forests between 800-2,600 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked as a vegetable. They are boiled.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ban karayla, Kang-mang, Nyomrang payin

Synonyms

Luffa cordifolia Bume; Thladiantha calcarata C. B. Clarke; Thladiantha omeiensis ex T. Y. Zhu; Thladiantha tonkinensis Gagnep.; Trichosanthes javanica Miq.; and others