Edible: Fruit, Seeds, Leaves, Flowers, Vegetable
A climbing, pumpkin family plant. The vine can be 3 m long. The plant re-grows from seed each year. The vines are thick, furrowed and hairy. The leaves are heart shaped with 5 to 7 lobes. They are rough to touch. Flowers are yellow. The immature fruit can have skin of various colours depending on variety. The fruit is up to 30 cm long and 20 cm across and green with a waxy covering when mature. This waxy layer enables the fruit to be stored for a long time. Fruit shape and size can vary with variety. The flesh is firm and white. The fruit are heavy - up to 8-45 kg.
A tropical plant. It is suited to warm, lowland, tropical conditions. It does better in dry areas or drier seasons. They are reasonably drought tolerant. The best temperature for growing is 23-28°C. They need a well-drained soil. They do best with a pH of 6.5. It grows in Nepal up to 1400 m altitude. In Yunnan.
Common Names: Alu puhul, Ash gourd, Ash pumpkin, Babuar, Baligo, Beligu, Bhuru kohlu, Bi xanh, Bligo semangka, Bligo, Blondcheng, Budagumbala kayi, Bududa-gummadi, Calabaza china, Chalkumra, Chal kumra, Chinese preserving melon, Chuna kumra, Dong gwa, Faeng, Fak-kib, Fak-kio, Fuzzy melon, Gimikumra, Jali kumra, Kalyanappushinikkay, Khaukhluhaba, Kodot, Kohala, Kondol, Kooshmanda, Kubhindo, Kubindo, Kumbalangai, Kundol, Kundor, Kundur, Kuvindo, Kyauk-pha-yon, Leor, Lun-tha, Mafaeng, Maipuang, Maipuong, Petha-kaddu, Petha, Pirorogo, Por-mat, Puhul, Pushani kai, Rodal, Sada kumra, Sambal pusanikkai, Tibiayon, Tong qua, Tonx, Torbot, Tougan, Trallaach, Trallah, Tung kwa, Umpong, Wattakkai, Winter melon
Synonyms: Benincasa cerifera Savi;
Benincasa cylindrica Ser. [Invalid];
Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua F.C. How;
Benincasa hispida var. hispida;
Benincasa pruriens (Parkinson) W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes [Invalid];
Benincasa pruriens f. hispida (Thunb.) W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes;
Benincasa vacua (F. Muell.) F. Muell.;
Cucurbita alba Roxb. ex Wight & Arn.;
Cucurbita farinosa Blume;
Cucurbita hispida Thunb.;
Cucurbita littoralis Hassk.;
Cucurbita pruriens Parkinson [Invalid];
Cucurbita pruriens Seem.;
Cucurbita vacua F. Muell.;
Cucurbita villosa Blume;
Gymnopetalum septemlobum Miq.;
Lagenaria dasystemon Miq.;
Lagenaria leucantha var. clavata Makino;
Lagenaria leucantha var. hispida (Thunb.) Nakai;
Lagenaria siceraria var. hispida (Thunb.) H. Hara;
Lagenaria vulgaris var. hispida (Thunb.) Nakai;