Benincasa hispida

Scientific name: Benincasa hispida(Thunb.) Cogn.

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Synonym: Cucurbita hispida Thunb., Benincasa cerifera Savi

Bengali/Vernacular name: Chalkumra (Bengali), Salkomra (Noakhali).

Tribal name: Anda-chae (Chak), Akkharu (Garo), Aamy-kaowling (Khumi), Umaei (Lushai), Kampen wi (Murang), Chaw-pharown-dae (Rakhaing), Sakumra bang (Marma), Chalkumra (Chakma), Jhum chalkumra (Tanchangya).

English name: Ash gourd, White gourd, Wax gourd.

Description of the plant: An annual vine, wide-spreading, softly hairy, with branched tendrils. Leaves reniform-rounded, deeply cordate, upper surface scabrous, lower shortly hispid, 5-7 lobed, margin sinuate, dentate. Plants are monoecious. Peduncles are hairy, male being long and of the females much shorter. Flowers are large and yellow, with a densely hairy bell-shaped calyx tube. Fruits broadly cylindric, hairy; mature fruit glabrous, ash coloured. The seeds are many, oblong, and compressed.

Plant parts used: Fruit.

Medicinal uses: Fruit juice is taken for the treatment of constipation, diabetes, epilepsy, insanity, nervous disease, abdominal pain and it is also used in urination problem.

Distribution: This species is usually grown throughout the country in home gardens.

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