Coccinia grandis, the ivy gourd, also known as scarlet gourd, or Tindora, 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.
Geographic spread
thumb|Immature fruits ready for consumption in India
thumb|Ivy gourd at Thrissur, Kerala, India
Its native range extends from Africa to Asia, including India, the Philippines, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, eastern Papua New Guinea, and in the Northern Territory, Australia. Its documented introduced range includes the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Saipan, Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
Seeds or fragments of the vine can be relocated and lead to viable offspring. This can occur when humans transport organic debris or equipment containing C. grandis. Once the ivy gourd is established, it is presumably spread by birds, rats, and other mammals. In Hawaii, the fruit may be dispersed by pigs. It was introduced to Hawaii as a backyard food crop. It is sometimes tolerated along garden fences and other outdoor features because of its attractive white flowers. It has escaped to become a vigorous pest in Hawaii, Florida, Australia, and Texas. <!-- In Hawaii, this plant has spread quickly through Manoa Valley to Punchbowl and into Waimānalo, Oahu, and into the Kona area. -->
Botanical description
This plant is a perennial climber with single tendrils and glabrous leaves. The leaves have 5 lobes and are 6.5–8.5 cm long and 7–8 cm wide. The species is dioecious. Female and male flowers emerge at the axils on the petiole, and have 3 stamens.
Weed control
Both physical and chemical recommendations are made for control of the ivy gourd. Physical control requires pulling up plants by the roots, removing and destroying all stems and fruits, and subsequent policing of the area over several years to destroy (pull up by the roots and remove) seedlings as they sprout. Less rigorous hand-harvesting techniques can make infestations worse, to the point that chemical procedures are required, since plants are able to re-establish themselves from small stem pieces that touch the ground. When using chemical controls, that ivy gourd responded well to a thin-lined bark application of 100% Garlon 4 (triclopyr), leaving plants in place so as not to translocate the herbicide or spread the pest.
Cultural significance
Also known as Bimba fruit or Bimbika in Indian languages, it holds symbolic importance in multiple traditions, often associated with beauty and sweetness. In Jainism, the fruit is used to illustrate the captivating appearance of the Lord's lips. Within Vaishnavism, the fruit's vivid red hue is likened to the lips of Lord Rama, emphasizing their attractiveness. In classical texts like the Puranas and Kavyas, it serves as a poetic metaphor for a princess's full, red lips, highlighting her beauty.
An excerpt from Prakrit text Gāhāraṇaṇakoso(Treasury of Gahas) compiled in 1000CE:<blockquote>The vermillion royal seal, placed by God on her bimba-fruit-like lips, protects her beauty. </blockquote>