Cucumis maderaspatanus L.

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Cucurbitales > Cucurbitaceae > Cucumis > C. maderaspatanus

Description: Stems to 4 m, hispid, prostrate or scandent. Leaf-lamina narrowly to broadly ovate or triangular in outline, cordate, hastate or sagittate, hispid or scabrid-setulose, especially on the veins, beneath, more shortly so or scabrid-punctate above, unlobed or usually palmately 3(5)-lobed, the lobes usually triangular, entire or remotely and minutely denticulate to coarsely sinuate-denticulate at the margins, the central much the largest, often acuminate, obtuse to acute, apiculate, the lateral shorter and more rounded. Petioles antrorsely hispid or scabrid. male flowers on 1–3 mm. long pedicels. Receptacle-tube obconic-campanulate, densely setulose; lobes lanceolate-subulate. Petals yellow. Female flowers 5–10 in each fascicle. Ovary long, globose, setulose; perianth similar to that of male flower. male flowers on 1–3 mm. long pedicels. Receptacle-tube obconic-campanulate, densely setulose; lobes lanceolate-subulate. Petals yellow. Fruits 2–8 in axillary clusters, rarely solitary, shortly pedicellate, globose, at first green with paler longitudinal markings, when mature bright red, smooth, glabrous. Seeds ovate in outline, rather tumid, verrucose, bordered.

Flowering and Fruiting: Throughout the year

Uses: A decoction of young shoots and leaves is used as an aperient, especially for children, and is also taken to treat vertigo and biliousness. The sap is given to small children in the treatment of amoebiasis. The leaf-sap is used as a wound-dressing. A poultice of the leaves is used in the treatment of burns. The dried, powdered leaves are dusted over scabies. The ash of the plant is mixed in castor oil and rubbed over scarifications and the temples to relieve for headache. The seeds are diaphoretic. They are chewed to cause perspiration. The fruit is used as a vermifuge. The root is chewed to relieve facial neuralgia, toothache, etc. A decoction is used in the treatment of flatulence.

Cultivation: Wild/cultivated

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org