Trichosanthes costata
Blume
Cucurbitaceae
Based on recent molecular phylogenetic data, the genus Gymnopetalum has recently been trasferred to the genus Trichosanthes - see De Boer, H. J. & M. Thulin. 2012. Synopsis of Trichosanthes (Cucurbitaceae) based on recent molecular phylogenetic data. PhytoKeys 12:29.
Bryonia cochinchinensis Lour.
Cucumis tubiflorus Roxb. ex Wight & Arn.
Euonymus chinensis Lour.
Gymnopetalum chinense (Lour.) Merr.
Gymnopetalum cochinchinense (Lour.) Kurz
Gymnopetalum heterophyllum Kurz
Gymnopetalum quinquelobatum Merr.
Gymnopetalum quinquelobum Miq.
Momordica spicata L. ex Sm.
Momordica surculata Noronha
Momordica tubiflora Roxb.
Scotanthus porteanus Naudin
Scotanthus tubiflorus Naudin
Trichosanthes fatoa Buch.-Ham.
Tripodanthera cochinchinensis (Lour.) M.Roem.
Common Name:
General Information
Trichosanthes costata is a perennial climbing plant with herbaceous stems up to 5 metres long. The stems scramble over the ground and grow into surrounding vegetation, attaching themselves by means of tendrils[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.
Known Hazards
Eaten as a vegetable in Vietnam, the leave are used as a fish poison in Laos[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The fruits are said to be very poisonous, though are also recorded as being used as a condiment and sweetmeat[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
999- Title
- The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 6
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Singapore Botanic Gardens; Singapore
- Year
- 1930
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal - this edition contains a list of the medicinal uses of plants in the region.
].
Botanical References
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
Range
E. Asia - China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines
Habitat
Waste land, along roads and in secondary forests, usually at low elevations[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. Forests and thickets on mountain slopes; at elevations from 400 - 900 metres[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial Climber |
| Height | 4.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
The unripe, deseeded fruits are candied or used as condiment[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. The fruit is a red, ovoid to oblongoid berry, 50mm long and 23mm wide, containing numerous seeds[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The leaves are used as a vegetable[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Medicinal
Medicinally the leaves are used against rheumatism and tetanus, and to cure ophthalmia[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
A decoction of the leaves is used to treat tetanus that has followed a miscarriage[
999- Title
- The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 6
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Singapore Botanic Gardens; Singapore
- Year
- 1930
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal - this edition contains a list of the medicinal uses of plants in the region.
]. The decoction is also used as an antidote to poisoning from eating the fruit[
555- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Asia and the Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
- Wiart C.
- Publisher
- CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group; Florida.
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
- 0-8493-7245-3
- Description
- An excellent look at a range of plants, in particular focussing on the active principles that could be responsible for the medical activities.
,
999- Title
- The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 6
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Singapore Botanic Gardens; Singapore
- Year
- 1930
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal - this edition contains a list of the medicinal uses of plants in the region.
].
The juice squeezed from the leaves is dropped into the eyes as a treatment for ophthalmia[
555- Title
- Medicinal Plants of Asia and the Pacific
- Publication
-
- Author
- Wiart C.
- Publisher
- CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group; Florida.
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
- 0-8493-7245-3
- Description
- An excellent look at a range of plants, in particular focussing on the active principles that could be responsible for the medical activities.
,
999- Title
- The Gardens' Bulletin Vol. 6
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Publisher
- Singapore Botanic Gardens; Singapore
- Year
- 1930
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical journal - this edition contains a list of the medicinal uses of plants in the region.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
