Trichosanthes cucumerina is a tropical or subtropicalvine. 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 reddish pulp of mature snake gourd is used as an economical substitute for tomato.[2] Common names for the cultivated variety include snake gourd[note 1],[4]serpent gourd,[4]chichinda[4]padwal[4] and Snake Tomato[4].
Formerly, the cultivated form was considered a distinct species, T. anguina, but it is now generally regarded as conspecific with the wild populations, as they freely interbreed:[1]
Trichosanthes cucumerina var. anguina (L.) Haines – cultivated variant
Trichosanthes cucumerina var. cucumerina – wild variant
Description
Plant diagram
Trichosanthes cucumerina is a monoecious annual vine climbing by means of tendrils. Leaves are palmately lobed, up to 25 cm long. Flowers are unisexual, white, opening at night, with long branching hairs on the margins of the petals. These hairs are curled up in the daytime when the flower is closed, but unfurl at night to form a delicate lacy display (see photos in gallery below). Fruits can be up to 200 cm long, deep red at maturity, hanging below the vine.[1][4][5]
The related Japanese snake gourd (Trichosanthes pilosa, sometimes called T. ovigera or T. cucumeroides), very similar in vegetative morphology, but the fruit of T. pilosa is round to egg-shaped, only about 7 cm long.[10]
Cultivation
The fruit can be induced to grow straight by tying a weight to the end.[11]
Uses
Culinary
The common name "snake gourd" refers to the narrow, twisted, elongated fruit. The soft-skinned immature fruit can reach up to 150 cm (59 in) in length. It is soft, bland, somewhat mucilaginous flesh is similar to that of the luffa and the calabash.
It is popular in the cuisines of South Asia and Southeast Asia and is now grown in some home gardens in Africa.[citation needed]
The primary culinary use of snake gourds is in curries and stews.[11]
In the different regions of South Asia, it's quite common and is known by various names like:-
With some cultivars, the immature fruit has an unpleasant odor and a slightly bitter taste, both of which disappear in cooking. The fruit becomes too bitter to eat as it reaches maturity, but it does contain a reddish pulp that is used in Africa as a substitute for tomatoes.[9][12]
The shoots, tendrils and leaves are also eaten as greens.
Other
The dried gourds were traditionally used as a soap substitute in some parts of Asia.[11]
Gallery
The lace-like flower of T. cucumerina opens only after dark. Here, it is shown almost completely unfurled.
^Robinson and Decker-Walters (1997[3]) p. 203-206: "Snake gourd" preferred name for Trichosanthes cucumerina, and Trichosanthes cucumerina preferred definition for "snake gourd".
^Robinson and Decker-Walters (1997[3]) p. 203-206: "Chinese snake gourd" preferred name for Trichosanthes kirilowii, and Trichosanthes kirilowii preferred definition for "chinese snake gourd".
^Robinson and Decker-Walters (1997[3]) p. 203-206: "Japanese snake gourd" preferred name for Trichosanthes ovigera, and Trichosanthes ovigera preferred definition for "japanese snake gourd".
^Decker-Walters (1996[13]): "Gourd - Lagenaria. (...) Longissima (Baton, Long Club, Italian Edible, Cucuzzi, Cucuzzi Caravazzi, Snake, Flute, Serpent) - Vendor: Vilmorin. Characteristics: similar to Hercules Club but longer, edible at 1' long x 2" diameter but will grow to 6' long; from Italy. Similar: Hercules Club. 1885"
^Coopper, Wendy E., & Hugo J. DeBoer. 2011. A taxonomic revision of Trichosanthes L. (Cucurbitaceae) in Australia, including one new species from Northern Territory. Austrobaileya 8:364-386.
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