Trichosanthes is a genus of tropical and subtropical vines. They belong to the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae), and are closely related to Gymnopetalum. Hodgsonia, formerly included here, is usually considered a well-distinct genus nowadays.

The shoots, tendrils, and leaves of some or possibly all species may be eaten as greens, and at least two species (serpent gourd, T. cucumerina, and pointed gourd, T. dioica) are grown commercially for their fleshy fruits used as vegetables, most popular in South Asia and Southeast Asia. At least two species (T. kirilowii and T. rosthornii) are grown for use in traditional Chinese medicine, where they are called the name gualou (). Trichosanthes is also known as a medicinal as well as poisonous plant in India. The herb has shown an ability to reduce chest congestion by breaking down phlegm and aiding in its removal from the lungs.

Selected species

thumb|right|T. napoensis and T. pedata: habit and seeds

  • Trichosanthes baviensis <small>Gagnepain</small>
  • Trichosanthes cochinchinensis <small>(Lour) M. Roem.</small>
  • Trichosanthes cucumerina &ndash; Serpent gourd, Padwal; dhunduli (Assamese); chichinga/chichinge (Bengali); paduvalakaayi (Kannada); padavalanga (Malayalam); purla (Sambalpuri); pathola (Sinhala); Pudol, Kurattai OR Sauri (Tamil); potlakaaya (Telugu)
  • Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina &ndash; Snake gourd
  • Trichosanthes dioica &ndash; Pointed gourd, (Hindi), / (eastern India & Northeastern Andhra)
  • Trichosanthes dunniana <small>Levl.</small>
  • Trichosanthes fissibracteata <small>C.Y.Wu ex C.Y.Cheng & Yueh</small>
  • Trichosanthes globosa <small>Blume</small>
  • Trichosanthes homophylla <small>Hayata</small>
  • Trichosanthes kerrii <small>Craib</small>
  • Trichosanthes kinabaluensis <small>Rugayah</small>
  • Trichosanthes kirilowii &ndash; "gualou" (China) (= T. japonica<!-- Regel -->)
  • Trichosanthes laceribractea <small>Hayata</small>
  • Trichosanthes lepiniana <small>(Nuad.) Cogn.</small>
  • Trichosanthes montana <small>Rugayah</small>
  • Trichosanthes pedata <small>Merr. & Chun</small>
  • Trichosanthes pendula <small>Rugayah</small>
  • Trichosanthes pilosa <small>(Ser.) Maxim in Franch. & Sav.</small> - Japanese snake gourd; karasuuri[烏瓜] (Japanese)
  • Trichosanthes pentaphylla <small>F.Muell. ex Benth.</small>
  • Trichosanthes postarii <small>W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes</small>
  • Trichosanthes quinquangulata <small>A.Gray</small>
  • Trichosanthes reticulinervis <small>C.Y.Wu ex S.K.Chen</small>
  • Trichosanthes rosthornii <small>Harms</small> &ndash; "gualou" (China) (= T. uniflora<!-- K. S. Hao -->)
  • Trichosanthes rubiflos <small>Thorel ex Cayla</small>
  • Trichosanthes rugatisemina <small>C.Y.Cheng & Yueh</small>
  • Trichosanthes scabra <small>Lour.</small>
  • Trichosanthes schlechteri <small>Cogn. ex Harms</small>
  • Trichosanthes sepilokensis <small>Rugayah</small>
  • Trichosanthes sericeifolia <small>C.Y.Cheng & Yueh</small>
  • Trichosanthes subrosea <small>C.Y.Cheng & Yueh</small>
  • Trichosanthes subvelutina <small>F.Muell. ex Cogn.</small>
  • Trichosanthes tricuspidata <small>Lour.</small> (= T. bracteata<!-- (Lam.) Voigt -->, T. palmata<!-- Roxb. -->)
  • Trichosanthes truncata <small>C.B.Clarke</small>
  • Trichosanthes villosa <small>Blume</small> &ndash; "baduyut" (Sundanese)
  • Trichosanthes wallichiana <small>(Ser.) Wight</small>
  • Trichosanthes wawraei <small>(Ser.) Xianyu.W</small>

In addition, several hybrids are known in this genus.

Formerly placed in Trichosanthes were for example Kedrostis foetidissima and Linnaeosicyos amara.

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File:Trichosanthes fruit at Ayyankave by Vijayanrajapuram 02.jpg

File:Trichosanthes fruit at Ayyankave by Vijayanrajapuram 11.jpg

File:Trichosanthes fruit at Ayyankave by Vijayanrajapuram 09.jpg

File:Trichosanthes fruit at Ayyankave by Vijayanrajapuram 13.jpg

File:Trichosanthes fruit at Ayyankave by Vijayanrajapuram 12.jpg

File:Trichosanthes fruit at Ayyankave by Vijayanrajapuram 06.jpg

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References

  • Multilingual taxonomic information from the University of Melbourne
  • ITIS report