Trichosanthes

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.

Trichosanthes
Trichosanthes tricuspidata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Subfamily: Cucurbitoideae
Tribe: Sicyoeae
Genus: Trichosanthes
L.
Species

See text

Synonyms

Anguina Mill.
Cucumeroides Gaertn.
Eopepon Naudin
Involucraria Ser.
Platygonia Naudin

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 (Chinese: 瓜蒌; pinyin: guālóu). 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.[1]

Selected species
T. napoensis[2] and T. pedata: habit and seeds
  • Trichosanthes baviensis Gagnepain
  • Trichosanthes cochinchinensis (Lour) M. Roem.
  • Trichosanthes cucumerina – Serpent gourd, Padwal; karasuuri[烏瓜] (Japanese); dhunduli (Assamese); chichinga/chichinge (Bengali); paduvalakaayi (Kannada); padavalanga (Malayalam); purla (Sambalpuri); pathola (Sinhala); Pudol, Kurattai OR Sauri (Tamil); potlakaaya (Telugu)
    • Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina – Snake gourd
  • Trichosanthes dioica – Pointed gourd, parwal (Hindi), potol / potals (eastern India & North eastern Andhra)
  • Trichosanthes dunniana Levl.
  • Trichosanthes fissibracteata C.Y.Wu ex C.Y.Cheng & Yueh
  • Trichosanthes globosa Blume
  • Trichosanthes homophylla Hayata
  • Trichosanthes kerrii Craib
  • Trichosanthes kinabaluensis Rugayah
  • Trichosanthes kirilowii – "gualou" (China) (= T. japonica)
  • Trichosanthes laceribractea Hayata
  • Trichosanthes lepiniana (Nuad.) Cogn.
  • Trichosanthes montana Rugayah
  • Trichosanthes pedata Merr. & Chun
  • Trichosanthes pendula Rugayah
  • Trichosanthes pilosa (Ser.) Maxim in Franch. & Sav. - Japanese snake gourd
  • Trichosanthes pentaphylla F.Muell. ex Benth.
  • Trichosanthes postarii W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes
  • Trichosanthes quinquangulata A.Gray
  • Trichosanthes reticulinervis C.Y.Wu ex S.K.Chen
  • Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms – "gualou" (China) (= T. uniflora)
  • Trichosanthes rubiflos Thorel ex Cayla
  • Trichosanthes rugatisemina C.Y.Cheng & Yueh
  • Trichosanthes schlechteri Cogn. ex Harms
  • Trichosanthes sericeifolia C.Y.Cheng & Yueh
  • Trichosanthes subrosea C.Y.Cheng & Yueh
  • Trichosanthes subvelutina F.Muell. ex Cogn.
  • Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. (= T. bracteata, T. palmata)
  • Trichosanthes truncata C.B.Clarke
  • Trichosanthes villosa Blume
  • Trichosanthes wallichiana (Ser.) Wight

In addition, several hybrids are known in this genus.

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

References
  1. Kate Wright (2009). "Natural Anti-Viral Support for Coughs and Congestion". Nutrition Review. 4 (4).
  2. Nong DX, Huang BY, Lan ZZ, Xie DM, Yu LY, Huang LQ (2015) Trichosanthes napoensis (Cucurbitaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China. Phytotaxa 207(3): 297-300
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