Zehneria maysorensis

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A climbing herb. The stems are slender. The leaves are alternate and 7-8 cm long by 6-8 cm wide. They are heart shaped at the base and taper to the tip. They are shallowly 3 angled and have teeth along the edge. The flowers are cream to yellow. The male flowers are in almost flat topped groups. The female flowers occur singly. The fruit is oblong and 1.7 cm long by 1.1 cm wide. They have fine markings. The seeds are flattened and broadly oval. They are 3.5 mm long by 2 mm wide.

The plant in Indochina may be Zehneria bodinieri.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in evergreen forests in the Western and Eastern Ghats.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Bhutan, China, Comoros, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Madagascar, Myanmar, SE Asia, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten as a vegetables. The roots are used to prepare a sweet drink.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

In southern India plants flower and fruit from October to December.

Its other names

Local names

Cau qua

Synonyms

Bryonia maysorensis Wight & Arn.; Melothria bodinieri H. Lev.; Melothria lucida (Naudin) Cogn.; Melothria maysorensis (Wight & Arn.) C. C. Chang; and others