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Trichosanthes kirilowi - Chinese cucumber

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Trichosanthes kirilowii

Trichosanthes kirilowii is a flowering plant in the family Cucurbitaceae. It is found particularly in Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, and Shaanxi. It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Uses

colds, HIV, high cholesterol, psoriasis, digestion, constipation

Parts Used

Leaves, Whole herb.

Chemical Composition

The plant is a source of the ricin-like protein trichosanthin[1]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada
Hindi Khira / Kheera / Kakdi
Malayalam Vellarikka
Tamil Vellarikka
Telugu
Marathi NA
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit
English Cucumber


Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.

Dravya

Rasa

Guna

Veerya

Vipaka

Karma

Prabhava

Habit

Shrub

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Simple large lThe Leaves (10-20 cm in the regular cucumber, 20-40 cm in the seedless cucumber) are each borne on long (7-20 cm) petioles

[2]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Unisexual 2-4cm long Yellow 5-20 The flowers which are mostly either male or female. The female flowers are recognized by the swollen ovary at the base, which will become the edible fruit

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
triangular 5-20cm In the immature fruit, chlorophyll in the cells under the epidermis causes the rind to be green, but, upon maturity, it turns yellow-whit the fruit is a false berry or pepo many seeds {{{6}}}

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds.

How to plant/cultivate

Cucumbers are tender annuals that grow best in temperatures ranging from 60° to 90°F. Sow cucumbers in the garden after the soil has warmed, 3 to 4 weeks after the average last frost date in spring.[3]

Commonly seen growing in areas

semitropical plant, high temperature, humidity.

Photo Gallery

References

External Links