Snake gourd

Snake gourd

Snake gourd is a tropical or subtropical vine, which is cultivated for its fruit. The fruit, which resembles a snake, is used as a vegetable.

Other names for snake gourd include serpent gourd, chichinga and padwal. The snake gourd is a common vegetable in south and south east Asia.

Names

Scientific
   Trichosanthes cucumerina
Synonym
   Trichosanthes anguina
English
   Chichinga
   Padwal
   Serpent gourd
   Snake gourd
French
   Padwal
   Patole
   Serpent gourde
German
   Chinesische Gurke
   Schlangengurke
   Schlangenhaargurke
   Schlangenkürbis
Other
   Chichinga

Taxonomy

Genus
   Trichosanthes
Family
   Cucurbitaceae
Order
   Cucurbitales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

?

Distribution:

Highest production in south and south east Asia.

Annual, biennial, or perennial:

Plant:

Snake gourd is a long vine. It is often grown climbing on trellis.

Flowers

Big white frayed flowers.

Leaves:

The leaves are edible.

Fruits:

The long slender fruits, which look like a snake, can be up to 1.5 meters long. Unripe fruits are green with white stripes. Ripe fruits turn orange.

Climate and weather:

Snake gourds grow in tropical and sub tropical climates.

Pollination:

Height:

Spacing:

Propagation:

Snake gourd is grown from seeds.

Insect pests:

Diseases:

Harvesting:

Fruits are harvested by hand picking before they turn ripe. Ripe fruits are bitter.

Uses:

The unripe fruits are used as a vegetable. They are often used in curries. Also the shoots and leaves are sometimes eaten as a vegetable. Roots and seeds are sometimes used as medicines.

Crop categories

Vegetables
Fruit vegetables
Food crops
Tropical crops
Subtropical crops

Pictures

Snake gourd


Snake gourd