''Trichosanthes'' is a genus of tropical and

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...

vines. They belong to the cucumber family ( Cucurbitaceae), and are closely related to '' Gymnopetalum''. ''

Hodgsonia ''Hodgsonia'' is a small genus of fruit-bearing vines in the family Cucurbitaceae. ''Hodgsonia'' was named for Brian Houghton Hodgson in 1853 by British botanists Joseph Dalton Hooker and Thomas Thomson, who examined the plant under Hodgson's ho ...

'', formerly included here, is usually considered a well-distinct genus nowadays. The shoots, tendrils, and

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

of some or possibly all species may be eaten as

greens Greens may refer to: *Leaf vegetables such as collard greens, mustard greens, spring greens, winter greens, spinach, etc. Politics Supranational * Green politics * Green party, political parties adhering to Green politics * Global Greens * Europ ...

, and at least two species (

serpent gourd ''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 redd ...

, ''T. cucumerina'', and

pointed gourd ''Trichosanthes dioica'' Roxb., also known as pointed gourd, is a tropical perennial cucurbit plant with its origin in the Indian subcontinent. It is also known as parwal, palwal, potol, or parmalin in different parts of India and Bangladesh. ...

, ''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

Trichosanthes napoiensis and Trichosanthes pedata habit and seeds

* '' Trichosanthes baviensis'' Gagnepain * ''

Trichosanthes cochinchinensis ''Trichosanthes cochinchinensis'' is a climbing plant in the family Cucurbitaceae, but the name may be unresolved, with The Plant List indicating that '' Gymnopetalum cochinchinense'' is a synonym of ''G. chinense'' (Lour.) Merr. No subspecies a ...

'' (Lour) M. Roem. * '' Trichosanthes cucumerina'' –

Serpent gourd ''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 redd ...

, 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'' – Snake gourd * '' Trichosanthes dioica'' –

Pointed gourd ''Trichosanthes dioica'' Roxb., also known as pointed gourd, is a tropical perennial cucurbit plant with its origin in the Indian subcontinent. It is also known as parwal, palwal, potol, or parmalin in different parts of India and Bangladesh. ...

, (Hindi), / (eastern India & Northeastern Andhra) * '' Trichosanthes dunniana'' Levl. * '' Trichosanthes fissibracteata'' C.Y.Wu ex C.Y.Cheng & Yueh * ''

Trichosanthes globosa ''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 ...

'' Blume * ''

Trichosanthes homophylla ''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 ...

'' Hayata * '' Trichosanthes kerrii'' Craib * '' Trichosanthes kinabaluensis'' Rugayah * ''

Trichosanthes kirilowii ''Trichosanthes kirilowii'' is a flowering plant in the family Cucurbitaceae found particularly in Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, and Shaanxi. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it shares the name ...

'' – ''"gualou"'' (China) (= ''T. japonica'') * '' Trichosanthes laceribractea'' Hayata * '' Trichosanthes lepiniana'' (Nuad.) Cogn. * '' Trichosanthes montana'' Rugayah * ''

Trichosanthes pedata ''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 ...

'' Merr. & Chun * ''

Trichosanthes pendula ''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 ...

'' Rugayah * '' Trichosanthes pilosa'' (Ser.) Maxim in Franch. & Sav. - Japanese snake gourd; ''karasuuri ��瓜' (Japanese) * '' Trichosanthes pentaphylla'' F.Muell. ex Benth. * ''

Trichosanthes postarii ''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 ...

'' W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes * '' Trichosanthes quinquangulata'' A.Gray * '' Trichosanthes reticulinervis'' C.Y.Wu ex S.K.Chen * ''

Trichosanthes rosthornii ''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 n ...

'' Harms – ''"gualou"'' (China) (= ''T. uniflora'') * ''

Trichosanthes rubiflos ''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 ...

'' Thorel ex Cayla * '' Trichosanthes rugatisemina'' C.Y.Cheng & Yueh * '' Trichosanthes schlechteri'' Cogn. ex Harms * ''

Trichosanthes sepilokensis ''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 ...

'' Rugayah * '' Trichosanthes sericeifolia'' C.Y.Cheng & Yueh * ''

Trichosanthes subrosea ''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 ...

'' C.Y.Cheng & Yueh * ''

Trichosanthes subvelutina ''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 ...

'' F.Muell. ex Cogn. * '' Trichosanthes tricuspidata'' Lour. (= ''T. bracteata, T. palmata'') * ''

Trichosanthes truncata ''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 ...

'' C.B.Clarke * ''

Trichosanthes villosa ''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 ...

'' Blume * '' Trichosanthes wallichiana'' (Ser.) Wight * '' Trichosanthes wawraei'' (Ser.) Xianyu.W In addition, several

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

s are known in this genus. Formerly placed in ''Trichosanthes'' were for example ''

Kedrostis foetidissima ''Kedrostis'' is a genus of ± 35 species climbing or trailing herbs in the family Cucurbitaceae. Its native range is tropical Africa and Asia. Species # '' Kedrostis abdallai'' A. Zimmermann # '' Kedrostis africana'' (L.) Cogn. # '' Kedro ...

'' and '' Linnaeosicyos amara''.

References

External links

*
Multilingual taxonomic information from the University of Melbourne

ITIS report
{{Taxonbar, from=Q134496 Cucurbitaceae genera Medicinal plants Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Plants described in 1753