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Benincasa hispida
| Common name: |
Wax Gourd |
Family: |
Cucurbitaceae |
| Author: |
(Thunb.)Cogn. |
Botanical references: |
200 |
| Synonyms: |
Benincasa cerifera (Savi.) |
| Known Hazards: |
None known |
| Range: |
Tropical Asia. |
| Habitat: |
Not known in a truly wild situation. |
| Edibility Rating (1-5): |
2 | Medicinal Rating (1-5): | 3 |
| Other Possible Synonyms: | From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below. |
| Cucurbita hispida[G]
|
| Other Common Names: | From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below. |
| Beligu [E], Bligo [E], Blonchengh [E], Chinese Winter Melon [H], Doan Gwa [H], Hindistan Qabaghi [E], Kundur [E], Pai Kua [E], Shijar Abyadh Hindi [E], Shui Chih [E], Ti Chih [E], To-Ga [E], Tung Kua [E], Tung Kua Tsu [E], Waxgourd [P], |
| Epithets: | From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets |
|
hispida = bristly
|
| Systematics: | From a USDA Plants Database |
|
Order: Violales. Cucumber family
|
| Other Range Info: |
From the Ethnobotany Database |
|
China
Iraq Malaya Singapore Turkey
|
Physical Characteristics
Annual growing to 6m. It is hardy to zone 10 and is frost tender. It is in leaf from June to October, in flower from July to September. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by Bees.
The plant is self-fertile.
We rate it 2/5 for edibility and
3/5 for medicinal use.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
It cannot grow in the shade.
It requires moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Habitats and Possible Locations
Cultivated Beds.Edible Uses
Flowers
Fruit Leaves Seed.
Fruit - raw or cooked[74, 114]. Used as a vegetable, and in pickles,
curries and preserves[1, 2, 27, 61, 183]. The fruit can be eaten when it is
young or old[116], it can be picked as early as one week after
fertilization[206]. A juicy texture with a mild flavour, the flavour is
somewhat stronger in younger fruits[206]. Because of its waxy coating, it
will store for several months, sometimes as long as a year[116, 206]. Mature
fruits can vary in weight from 2 - 50 kg[206]. A nutritional analysis is
available[218].
Young leaves and flower buds are steamed and eaten as a vegetable, or are
added as a flavouring to soups[183, 200].
Seed - cooked[74, 114, 177, 183]. Rich in oil and protein. Composition
- Fruit (Fresh weight)
-
In grammes per 100g weight of food:
Water: 96.1
Calories: 13
Protein: 0.4
Fat: 0.2
Carbohydrate: 3
Fibre: 0.5
Ash: 0.3
In milligrammes per 100g weight of food:
Calcium: 19
Phosphorus: 19
Iron: 0.4
Sodium: 6
Potassium: 111
Thiamine: 4
Riboflavin: 0.11
Niacin: 0.4
VitaminC: 13
Source: [218]
Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Anthelmintic
Antiperiodic Aphrodisiac Cancer Demulcent Diuretic Expectorant Febrifuge Laxative Salve Tonic VD.
The wax gourd has been used as a food and medicine for thousands of
years in the Orient. All parts of the fruit are used medicinally.
The rind of the fruit is diuretic[218, 238]. It is taken internally in the
treatment of urinary dysfunction, summer fevers etc[238]. The ashes of the
rind are applied to painful wounds[218].
The seed is anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, demulcent, diuretic,
expectorant, febrifuge, laxative and tonic[218, 238]. A decoction is used
internally in the treatment of vaginal discharges and coughs[238, 254]. In
combination with Rheum palmatum it is used to treat intestinal
abscesses[254]. In Ayurvedic medicine the seed is used in the treatment of
coughs, fevers, excessive thirst and to expel tapeworms[254]. The oil from
the seed is also used as an anthelmintic[240].
The fruit is antiperiodic, aphrodisiac, diuretic, laxative and tonic[240].
It is used in Ayurvedic medicine in the treatment of epilepsy, lung diseases,
asthma, coughs etc[238]. The fruit juice is used in the treatment of
insanity, epilepsy and other nervous diseases[240]. Recent research has shown
that the fruits contain anti-cancer terpenes[238].
An infusion of the root is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[218].
Demulcent, salve. Facilitates pus drainage[147, 176, 178]. We have a more details factsheet on the history and medicinal use of this plant. Email webmaster@pfaf.org for details.
Other Uses
Rootstock.
A wax that coats the fruit is used to make candles[2, 27, 238].
The roots have considerable resistance to soil-borne diseases and they are
sometimes used as a rootstock for melons and other cucurbits[206].
Cultivation details
Requires a warm sunny position in a rich well-drained soil and plenty
of moisture in the growing season[1, 200, 238]. Established plants are
reasonably drought tolerant[206]. Tolerates a pH in the range 5.8 to 6.8.
This species is not very frost hardy, it is best grown in a greenhouse in
Britain[86] but can succeed outdoors in good summers if started off in a
greenhouse and planted out after the last expected frosts. Plants require
stable temperatures in excess of 25° c if they are to do well[200]. Short
daylengths and lower temperatures stimulate female flower development, higher
temperatures stimulate male flower production[200]. Plants take 5 months from
seed to produce a mature crop, though the fruits can be eaten when
immature[206].
The wax gourd is frequently cultivated for its edible fruit in the tropics,
there are many named varieties[183]. One group, sometimes classified as B.
hispids chieh-gua, is known as the hairy melon or jointed gourd. This form is
grown for its immature fruit in much the same way as courgettes are
used[206]. Mature fruits of this form do not develop a waxy coating[206]. The
fruit can be harvested about 3 months after sowing[206].
Propagation
Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse. Germination should take place
within 3 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out
into individual pots and grow them on fast in a rich compost in the
greenhouse. Try to maintain a minimum night temperature of at least 10° c for
the seedlings first few weeks[206]. Plant out in May/June after the last
expected frosts[1].
Cultivars
- ''
- No entries have been made for this species as yet.
Suppliers
For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.
Web References
- Latin and Worldwide Common Names
From Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database by M. H. Porcher et. al. 1995 - 2000
Landcare Systems Research Laboratory, Department of Crop Production,Institute of Land and Food Resources, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
- [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
- [E] Ethnobotany Data
(common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
- [B] Data
(Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
- [PHARM] Phytochemical Data
(common names, uses, countries) from Dr Duke's Phytochemical Database.
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
- [P] Data.
(uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
- [HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
References for Benincasa cerifera (a possible synonym).
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.
Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.
[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
[27] Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8
A reprint of a nineteenth century classic, giving details of vegetable varieties. Not really that informative though.
[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
[74] Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers.
[86] Organ. J. Gourds. Faber 1963
Deals with squashes and their relatives. Interesting and readable, it gives cultivation techniques and some details of plant uses.
[114] Chakravarty. H. L. The Plant Wealth of Iraq.
It is surprising how many of these plants can be grown in Britain. A very readable book on the useful plants of Iraq.
[116] Brooklyn Botanic Garden Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden 1986
A small booklet packed with information.
[147] ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.
[176] Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985
A very good Chinese herbal.
[177] Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984 ISBN 3874292169
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
[178] Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating.
[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[206] Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 1991 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4
Well written and very informative.
[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
[240] Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
[254] Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
Readers Comments
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Plant information taken from the
Plants For A Future -
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