Snake Gourd • Hindi: चचिंडा Chachinda, चिचौंडा Chichonda Sanskrit: अमृतफल Amritaphala, bijagarbha, Trichosanthes cucumerina

Common name: Snake Gourd • Hindi: चचिंडा Chachinda, चिचौंडा Chichonda Sanskrit: अमृतफल Amritaphala, bijagarbha.

Botanical name: Trichosanthes cucumerina 

Location:- HP,Chamba

DOC:- 16/10/2021

Family: Cucurbitaceae (Pumpkin family)

Synonyms: Trichosanthes anguina, Cucumis anguinus, Trichosanthes lobata

Snake Gourd is a tropical or subtropical vine, raised for its strikingly long fruit, used as a vegetable and for medicine. The narrow, soft-skinned fruit can reach 150 cm long. Its soft, bland, somewhat mucilaginous flesh is similar to that of the luffa and the calabash. Leaf blade kidney-shaped or broadly ovate, 7-10 × 8-11 cm, membranous, deeply 5-7-lobed, lobes triangular or rhombic. The white flower is beautiful and lacy, and open at night. It is most popular in the cuisine of South Asia and Southeast Asia. The shoots, tendrils, and leaves are also eaten as greens. It is a popular vegetable in South India.

Medicinal uses: Warning: Unverified information According to Ayurveda, the plant pacifies vitiated pitta, constipation, skin diseases, burning sensation, diabetes, anorexia, flatulence, constipation, worm infestation, fever and general weakness.

From @ Gajinder Varma