Practical
Plants

Trichosanthes ovigera

Japanese Snake Gourd

a perennial woody member of the Trichosanthes genus in the family Cucurbitaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Woodiness
woody
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][8][9][4]. The immature fruit is preserves in miso or salt[4]. The mature fruit is about 7cm long[6]. A nutritional analysis is available[7]. We have no record of the seed being edible, though there is no reason to believe that it should not be[K]. Like the edible seeds of many members of this plant family, the seed is eaten in the Orient as a vermifuge[7]. The seed contains 33.8% protein and 56.3% fat[7].

Plant part
Fruit
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.

Diuretic[2]. The seed is vermifuge[7]. The root is anodyne, antiphlogistic, blood purifier, depurative, febrifuge and resolvent[3]. It is used as a poultice or made into a decoction to treat abscesses, boils, fevers, sore throats etc[3][7]. The fruit is used to treat coughs, diabetes, jaundice etc[7].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Product or use
Blood purifier
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

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

The dried fruit is a soap substitute[8][9][2].

Product or use
Soap

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan.
Habitat
Fertile and damp places in mountain wilds in China[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 10+
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]. Plants are not hardy in Britain and normally require greenhouse cultivation[6], but it may be possible to grow them as a spring-sown annual in a very warm sheltered bed outdoors[1].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  5. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  7. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  8. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  9. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

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