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ivy gourd
Scientific Name: Coccinia grandis
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Vine, Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Coccinia grandis: The Intriguing Ivy Gourd
Coccinia grandis, commonly known as ivy gourd, is a tropical vine with a variety of names across different regions. These include tendli (in India), baby watermelon, little gourd, gentleman's toes, tindora, and even the somewhat misleading "gherkin."
Considerations for Pets
- The plant is a fast-growing vine with tendrils, which might be tempting for pets to play with.
Considerations for Children
- The plant produces small, red fruits (1-3 inches long) that may be attractive to young children.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Coccinia grandis
- Family: Cucurbitaceae (the gourd family)
- Synonyms: Coccinia indica, Coccinia cordifolia, cephalandra indica (based on mentions and potentially outdated names).
- The provided text references a paper titled "MEDICAL PROPERTIES OF IVY GD (CEPHALANDRA INDICA)", indicating that the older classification *Cephalandra indica* may still be encountered.
Distribution and Habitat
- Originally native to East Africa.
- Has been introduced to Australia, the Caribbean, and southern regions.
- Grows well in India and Thailand, and generally thrives in tropical areas and semi-arid regions.
Ecological Role
- In Queensland, Australia, ivy gourd is considered a pest weed due to its aggressive climbing nature.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- It is a perennial vine, meaning it lives for more than two years.
- It is a fast-growing, aggressive climbing vine that can reach up to 3 meters (approximately 10 feet) in length.
- The stems are mostly hairless.
- Leaves are typically 3-10 cm long and 4-10 cm wide, oval-shaped or round, and may be 5-angled or 3-5 lobed. They become hairless with age.
- It produces tendrils in the axils of its leaves, which are long and simple.
- It features dioecious flowers, meaning individual flowers are either male or female.
- Produces red fruits that are 1-3 inches long.
Traditional Uses and Potential Benefits
- Ivy gourd has been used in Ayurvedic medicine and Asian cuisine for centuries, similar to bitter melon.
- It is often used for normalizing blood sugar levels and is being studied as a potential natural treatment for diabetes.
- Some believe it possesses laxative properties.
- Young leaves and slender stem tops are cooked and eaten in some cultures.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- The text mentions the propagation of the ivy gourd gall weevil, Acythopeus burkhartorum, suggesting this weevil interacts with the plant.
- A study mentions a Begomovirus species infecting ivy gourd in Tamil Nadu, India.
Quirky Facts
- One of its common names is "gentleman's toes."
- The text includes a recipe titled "Spicy Tindora or Ivy Gourd Roast" suggesting varied uses in cuisine.
Further Information
- WebMD provides patient medical information.
- Healthy-ojas.com provides information on ivy gourd and diabetes.
- ResearchGate hosts scientific publications on the plant.
- Dave's Garden is a community forum for gardeners to share tips and ideas.
- AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center has published information in "Discovering Indigenous Treasures: Promising Indigenous Vegetables from Around the World."