Trichosanthes tricuspidata

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A pumpkin family plant. It is a vine or soft climber. It can grow 5-6 m long. The tendrils are divided into 3. The leave vary. They have 3-5 lobes and are heart shaped at the base. The lobes are oval and have teeth along the edge. Male and female flowers are separate. Male flowers are in groups of 5-10 and female flowers occur singly. The flowers are white and the corolla petals are wedge shaped and fringed. The fruit are round or oval. They turn red when ripe and have orange streaks.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In India it grows between 1,200-2,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young leaves are edible. They are cooked as a vegetable. The root is roasted or boiled and eaten. The seeds are roasted and then eaten. CAUTION: The fruit are poisonous.

Edible parts

Leaves, root, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Akar kepayang, Akar lokan, A-pa-kas, Bolu teke, Indreni, Indreyni, Kalayar, Kayu keleka singga, Mo qua, Pul aek, Sentoh, Thowan

Synonyms

Involucraria lepiniana Naudin; Medecca bracteata Lam.; Trichosanthes quinquangulata A. Gray; Trichosanthes bracteata (Lam.) Voigt.; Trichosanthes lepiniana (Naudin) Cogn.; Trichosanthes palmata Roxb.; Trichosanthes pubera Bl.; Trichosanthes tricuspis Miq.;