Trichosanthes cucumerina

Trichosanthes cucumerina is a tropical or subtropical vine. Its variety T. cucumerina var. anguina raised for its strikingly long fruit. In Asia, it is eaten immature as a vegetable much like the summer squash and in Africa, the reddish pulp of mature snake gourd is used as an economical substitute for tomato. Common names for the cultivated variety include snake gourd, serpent gourd, chichinda padwal and Snake Tomato. Trichosanthes cucumerina is found in the wild across much of South and Southeast Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar(Burma) and southern China (Guangxi and Yunnan). It is also regarded as native in northern Australia. and naturalized in Florida, parts of Africa and on various islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Formerly, the cultivated form was considered a distinct species, T. anguina, but it is now generally regarded as conspecific with the wild populations, as they freely interbreed: Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina (L.) Haines – cultivated variant Trichosanthes cucumerina var. cucumerina – wild variant

Description

A pumpkin family plant. It is a climber with tendrils. It grows 2.4-6 m high and spreads 1.5-3 m wide. The vine has furrows along it. The leaves have 3 to 7 lobes and a tooth like edge. The flowers are white. The male flowers are without a bract and the female flowers are produced singly. The flowers have long stalks. The long fruit tend to curve. They can be 1-2 m long. When ripe they turn orange or red, but are grey and green when young.

Edible Uses

The common name "snake gourd" refers to the narrow, twisted, elongated fruit. The soft-skinned immature fruit can reach up to 150 cm (59 in) in length. Its soft, bland, somewhat mucilaginous flesh is similar to that of the luffa and the calabash. It is popular in the cuisines of South Asia and Southeast Asia and is now grown in some home gardens in Africa. The primary culinary use of snake gourds is in curries and stews. With some cultivars, the immature fruit has an unpleasant odor and a slightly bitter taste, both of which disappear in cooking. The fruit becomes too bitter to eat as it reaches maturity, but it does contain a reddish pulp that is used in Africa as a substitute for tomatoes. The shoots, tendrils and leaves are also eaten as greens.

Traditional Uses

The long immature fruit are eaten cooked. Sometimes a bitter taste occurs but this disappears with boiling. They can be baked, stuffed or used in curries and stews. Fruit are inedible when ripe. The young leaves are eaten cooked.

Medicinal Uses

The fruit is emetic, purgative and vermifuge. The inner pulp of the fruit is made into a syrup to treat cough.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It is common in the humid tropical lowlands up to 500 m. It does not tolerate dry soil and requires a good moisture reserve in the soil, but is sensitive to water-logging. The optimum temperature for growth is 30-35°C with a minimum of 20°C. It occurs throughout the Philippines at low and medium altitudes up to 1200 m. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Middle East, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies,

Cultivation

Snake gourd is grown from seed. Seed germinate after 10 days. It requires 4-6 kg/ha. Seed can be sown in a nursery and transplanted at the 2 true leaf stage. More commonly plants are sown where they are to grow. A spacing of 60 - 100 cm is suitable. Plants need supports to climb. Often in home gardens this is a natural support such as a house. Plants respond to fertiliser but excessive nitrogen can produce too much vegetative growth. Pruning can improve the female to male flower ratio.

Production

Flowering starts 5 weeks after planting. Male flowers appear first then female flowers 3 days later. Pollination is normally by insects. Harvesting of fruit starts 6-7 weeks after planting and continues for 1 or 2 months. Fruit are picked 12-20 days after fruit set when they are 30-60 cm long. Fruit do not store well but can be stored for 10-14 days at a temperature of 16-17°C and relative humidity of 85-90%. By the time the fruit turn orange they are too mature to eat.

Other Information

It is a moderately commonly used tropical vegetable. It is cultivated. In Papua New Guinea it is most commonly seen in the Sepik or in gardens of Sepik people.

Notes

Trichosanthes anguina is a correct name and also Trichosanthes cucumerina.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Amritaphala, Ban chichinda, Banpatal, Banpatol, Ban potol, Begul, Bettada-padawala, Binisi noki, Boap nguu, Bonlon, Buap ngu, Buap nguu, Buap-khom, Calabaza de culebra, Chachinda, Chayud pottah, Chetipotla, Chhachhindara, Cichanda, Chichinda, Chichindo, Chichinga, Chikonda, Chichinda, Chirchira, Club gourd, Galartori, Hebi-uri, Jangli chachinda, Jangli-chachinda, Jangli chichanda, Kadwamparwal, Kashtbhanjan, Lilkaetha, Lingapotla, Melon-melonan, Na-we-ngon, Padavalanga, Padivilangu, Padval, Padwal, Padavali, Paeypuda, Pakupis, Pare welut, Pare-belut, Pathola, Pe-lin-mwe, Pe-lum-mwe-thi, Pepatolam, Pepoodel, Petola ular, Petola-ular, Podalangai, Potlakaaya, Pudal, Pu-lultha, Ranacha padawal, Sze gwa, Thabut-kha, Timun bengkok, Tola ular

References (93)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 42
• Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
• Ali, A. M. S., 2005, Homegardens in Smallholder Farming Systems: Examples from Bangladesh. Human Ecology, Vol. 33, No. 2 pp. 245-270
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 649 (Also as Trichosanthes anguina)
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 223 (As Trichosanthes anguina)

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