Practical
Plants

Trichosanthes multiloba

an annual member of the Trichosanthes genus in the family Cucurbitaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Growth rate
vigorous
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An edible starch is obtained from the root[5]. It requires leeching[4]. The root is harvested in the autumn, cut into thick slices, soaked for 4 - 5 days in water, changing the water daily until the root disintegrates and can be mashed into a fine pulp. It is then steamed into cakes or used for making dumplings[2][3][4]. The starch is mixed with wheat or rice flour and made into crackers, dumplings, noodles etc.

Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Antitussive, astringent, diuretic, febrifuge, tonic[3].

Product or use
Antitussive
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An oil from the seed is used for lighting[3].

Product or use
Oil

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, central and southern Japan and the eastern Himalayas.
Habitat
Found at elevations between 600 and 1,800 metres in the Himalayas
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow March in pots in a warm greenhouse in a rich soil. Sow 2 - 3 seeds per pot and thin to the strongest plant. Grow them on fast and plant out after the last expected frosts. Give some protection, such as a frame or cloche, until the plants are growing away well.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a rich well-drained soil and plenty of moisture in the growing season[1][6]. This species is not winter hardy in Britain and usually requires greenhouse cultivation. However, it may be possible to grow it as a spring-sown annual in a very warm sheltered bed outdoors[1]. Closely related to T. palmata, and possibly no more than a form of that species, it differs only in its fruit.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  3. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  7. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

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