Scientific Name
Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour.
Common Name(s)
Bitter Snake Gourd
Synonym(s)
Involucraria cucumerina, Involucraria modecca, Involucraria wightiana, Modecca bracteata, Trichosanthes bracteata, Trichosanthes puber
Scientific Classification
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Tribe: Sicyoeae
Genus: Trichosanthes
Origin
Trichosanthes tricuspidata is native to the Himalayas, India, China, Japan, Malaysia, and Tropical Australia.
Flower
Color: White
Bloom Time: May to April
Description
Trichosanthes tricuspidata is a large climber with a strong woody and grooved stem with trailing branches. It grows up to 65 feet (20 m) long. Tendrils are divided into 2 to 3 parts. Leaves are up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) across, broadly heart-shaped but palmately 3 to 5 lobed. The leaf margins are toothed.
The flowers are white, up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, with five wedge-shaped petals with frilly margins. They occur either solitary or in 5 to 10 flowered racemes in leaf axils. The sepal cup is tubular and up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) long. Fruits are spherical, up to 2 inches (5 cm) across, red when ripe, and streaked with ten orange streaks.

Hardiness
It is grown as an annual plant, so it has no USDA hardiness zone.
How to Grow and Care
First, Snake Gourds need a trellis or something to grow up — an arbor, chain link fence, etc. Make sure the structure is sturdy due to the weight of the large gourds. Start the seeds indoors early after soaking overnight to increase germination time. Transplant outside much as you would bean plants in well-mixed organic matter and topsoil.
Seeds can be saved for the following season but toss out any light-colored or white seeds. Keep and plant many more seeds than you think you may need, as the germination rate is only about 60 percent.
Snake Gourd care is similar to that of most other gourds. Prune the plant's lateral branches to increase fruit set and production. Some people tie a pebble or other weight to the flower end of the gourd to foster a straighter fruit, but this is just for aesthetics. There is no need to do so.
Harvest Snake Gourds when young, around 40 to 50 days from planting. The long varietals may then be ready when only 16 to 18 inches, while the shorter cultivars will be about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) in length.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Snake Gourd Plant.
Links
- Back to genus Trichosanthes
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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