Coccinia grandis

Coccinia grandis, the ivy gourd, also known as scarlet gourd, is a tropical vine. It grows primarily in tropical climates and is commonly found in the Indian states where it forms a part of the local cuisine. Coccinia grandis is cooked as a vegetable dish. In Southeast Asia, it is grown for its edible young shoots and edible fruits.

Description

A pumpkin family plant. It is a climbing or trailing herb. It can climb 20 m high. It has single tendrils. It has long tuberous roots. The leaves are heart shaped, with the lobes towards the base in an angular shape. The leaves are 5-10 cm across. The edges of the leaves are irregular. The flowers occur as male and female flowers on separate plants. The flowers are large and white and occur singly. The fruit is oblong and up to 10 cm long by 2.5 cm across. It is green with white stripes. The fruit become bright red when mature. The seeds are white or light brown. They are hairy and flattened with a broad rim.

Edible Uses

Young leaves and the long slender tops of stems are cooked and eaten as a potherb or added to soups. Young, tender green fruits can be eaten raw in salads or cooked in curries. The ripe scarlet fruit is eaten raw — it is fleshy and sweet, and grows up to 5 cm long.

Traditional Uses

The leaves, shoots, and immature fruits are cooked as a vegetable. Mature fruits are eaten raw. The ripe red fruit are collected, peeled and cut into small pieces and added to porridge. The leaf tips are cooked as a vegetable. They are also used in soups. The leaves can be stored for 10 days. The unripe fruit are cooked as a vegetable. They are used in curries. Sometimes the fruit are candied.

Medicinal Uses

The juice of the roots and leaves is considered useful for treating diabetes. The juice of the stem is dripped into the eyes to treat cataracts. The leaves are applied as a poultice for skin eruptions. The plant acts as a laxative and is used internally in the treatment of gonorrhoea. Both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the plant have demonstrated hypoglycaemic activity.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It does well in warm climates. In cold weather, plants remain dormant. They cannot grow in waterlogged soil. Plants grow between 550 and 1600 m altitude in Ethiopia. It requires a well distributed rainfall and a fairly high humidity. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 1,000-1,600 mm. It requires a sandy soil with good drainage and a high level of organic material. In Nepal the plants grow up to 1400 m altitude. In south Vietnam it grows up to 1,500 m above sea level. In the Himalayas in India it grows between 1,200-2,000 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, East Africa, East Timor, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guiana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Micronesia, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Sahel, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South America, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yemen, Zambia,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from stem cuttings or tuberous roots. They can also be grown from seeds. Stem cuttings about 12-15 cm long are suitable. The plant needs a trellis to climb over. One male plant to every ten female plants is enough to ensure pollination. A spacing of 150 cm apart is suitable. During dry periods watering is required.

Propagation

Seed — sow in March in a warm greenhouse in pots of fairly rich soil, placing 2–3 seeds per pot. Germination usually occurs within 2–4 weeks at 20°c. Thin to the strongest seedling per pot, grow on quickly with occasional liquid feeds, and plant out after the last expected frost, providing protection such as a cloche until plants are establishing well.

Other Uses

No other uses are known for this plant.

Production

Plants can grow for 3 or 4 years. The yield of fruit can be about 10 kg per plant. In Tanzania the fruit are collected in June to August.

Other Information

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. The fruit are popular. It is not known if it is eaten in Papua New Guinea. It is a cultivated plant in Africa. The seeds are only occasionally chewed. It is sold in local markets.

Notes

It can be invasive. It is illegal to grow it in some places. It is used in medicine.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Amballa gosa, Ariapongos, Aroi papasan, Babasa tahan, Baby cucumber, Bak tam nin, Ban kakri, Bana torada, Bankakro, Bat, Belipoka, Bimbika, Bolu teke, Buta, Bwlai, Cheri, Chiloda, Chum bat, Covakai, Covay kai, Donda, Edaldalksin, Enkaiserariai, Gol kakri, Golenda, Golkankri, Golkakari, Golyakakadi, Hong gua, Imondiu, Imore, Jangli kundru, Jangli tondare, Kandaroi, Kanduri, Kapasan, Kattukoval, Kauwa-luli, Khai-khruk, Kimowe, Kimuya, Kiukamapa 'ae 'initia, Koba, Kovai, Kovakai, Kova keerai, Kundari, Kundaru, Kundri, Kundri ja, Kundru, Kunduli, Kunduri, Lacheta, Lyungulyungu, Mad, Ma dian lu, Malual, Maqd, Marr 'had, Mogad, Na odio, Ndegegeya, Ni qi, li po luo, Pak tam lung, Pake, Papasan, Pepasan, Phak tam leung, Phak tam ling, Phak tam nin, Phak tamlueng, Sarap alas, Scarlet fruited gourd, Scarlet gourd, Sleuk bah, Sleuk bas, Sloek Bas, Tala kachu, Tala kucha, Tam ling, Tam lung, Tam nin, Tam-lueng, Tandli, Teingninhi, Telakucha, Telkocha, Tilkakri, Tilkocha, Tindola, Tindora, Tinduri, Tondali, Tonde-konde, Tondli, Tongli, Tudu, Tumlueng, Tunanyira, Vo-ak thoithe, Watani badrang

References (144)

• Addis, G., et al, 2005, Ethnobotanical Study of Edible Wild Plants in Some Selected Districts of Ethiopia. Human Ecology, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 83-118
• Addis, G., et al, 2013, Dietary values of wild and semi-wild edible plants in Southern Ethiopia. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. 13(2)
• Addis, G., Asfaw, Z & Woldu, Z., 2013, Ethnobotany of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants of Konso Ethnic Community, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 11:121-141
• Addis, G., et al, 2013, The Role of Wild and Semi-wild Edible Plants in Household Food Sovereignty in Hamer and Konso Communities, South Ethiopia. Ethnobotany Research & Applications. 11:251-271
• Al-Fatimi, M. A., Wild Edible Plants Traditionally Collected and Used in Southern Yemen. Research Square. University of Aden. p 17

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