SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 13123.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "13123" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

cyclanthera

Scientific Name: Cyclanthera

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Cyclanthera pedata

Cyclanthera pedata, a herbaceous vine, is known by several common names, including Caigua, Achocha, Lady's Slipper, Slipper Gourd, Sparrow Gourd, Stuffing Cucumber, Wild Cucumber, Caihua, Caygua, Cayua, and Korila.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant is a vine and might be tempting for pets to chew on.
  • The fruit has a smooth skin, which may be appealing but also could be a choking hazard, depending on the size and quantity consumed.

Considerations for Children

  • The plant is a vine and might be tempting for children to chew on.
  • The fruit has a smooth skin, which may be appealing but also could be a choking hazard, depending on the size and quantity consumed.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Cyclanthera pedata (L.) Schrad.
  • Family: Cucurbitaceae (Gourd Family)
  • Tribe: Sicyoeae
  • Synonyms:
    • Cyclanthera pedata (L.) Schrad.
    • Cyclanthera pedata var. edulis (Naudin) Cogn.
    • Momordica pedata

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the lower Andes of South America.
  • Also found as a cultivated plant or escaped from cultivation.
  • Observed in locations such as Mussoorie (India), central Italy, and Norwich (UK).

Morphology and Growth Habits

  • It is an annual plant, growing up to 4.5 meters (14 feet 9 inches).
  • The plant is a slender, herbaceous vine.
  • The fruits are slipper-shaped with smooth skin.

Ecological Role

  • Cyclanthera explodens, a related species, has spiny fruits that burst open when ripe, expelling seeds.

Quirky Facts

  • The plant has a "ridiculous pile of common names."
  • Seeds may exhibit physiological dormancy, requiring specific conditions to germinate.

Uses

  • The mature fruit is edible and predominantly used as a vegetable.
  • Fruits are described as having a cucumber/asparagus flavor.
  • They can be eaten raw or stuffed.

Further Information

  • Raintree Online Plant Database
  • Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (for Cyclanthera brachystachya)
  • International Plant Names Index
  • The Plant List
  • Wikimedia Commons
  • Wikispecies
  • ResearchGate