Edible: Leaves, Fruit, Caution, Vegetable
A herb. It is a pumpkin family plant. It is a slender climbing plant with angular stems. The stems are weak but the lower part can be somewhat woody. It can climb to 2-4 m high. The stems are angular and grooved. The rootstock is fleshy. The leaves have 3 or 5 lobes divided like fingers on a hand and are 10-15 cm wide by 6-17 cm long. There are fine teeth on the top edges of the leaves and the leaves are angular. The leaves are rough on top but smooth underneath. The leaf stalks are 3-9 cm long. The stem has tendrils which have 1 or 2 branches. Flowers are small and yellow or green. Male and female flowers are separate but often together near a leaf. Often one or two female flowers are surrounded by several male flowers. The fruit is 4 cm long and green with pale streaks along it. The leaves and stems give off a bad smell when damaged.
It is a tropical plant. It occurs on the coast in Papua New Guinea and grows up to about 1000 m above sea level. It Africa it grows to 1,830 m above sea level. It needs a well drained soil and can grow in a sunny or partial shady position. The plant also grows in Africa, India, Malaysia, China and Australia. There are a couple of subspecies. It can grow in arid places.
Common Names: Aattupudal, Ba-da, Ban kakra, Bankarela, Ghungarubhaji, Kavdoli, Kongakonga, Korek kotok, Kuniyanchappu, Lollipop climber, Luongluan chan-vit, Mahadevpind, Malaipusanni, Shanker-vel, Shivlingi, Sivalingakkai, Sivalingi, Tendu, Uvakandasopu
Synonyms:
Bryonia affinis Endl.;
Bryonopsis affinis (Endl.) Cogn.;
Bryonia lacinosa L.;
Bryanopsis lacinosa (L.) Naud.;
Bryonia palmata L.;
Bryonopsis pancheri (Naudin) Naudin;
Ilocania pedata Merr.;
Trichosanthes muelleri Cogn.;
Zehneria erythrocarpa F. Mueller;