Citrullus colocynthis

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad., Linnaea 12: 414 1838. (syn: Citrullus colocynthis var. insipidus Pangalo; Citrullus colocynthis subsp. insipidus (Pangalo) Fursa; Citrullus colocynthis var. stenotomus Pangalo; Citrullus colocynthis subsp. stenotomus (Pangalo) Fursa; Citrullus colocynthoides Pangalo; Citrullus pseudocolocynthis M.Roem.; Colocynthis officinalis Schrad.; Colocynthis vulgaris Schrad.; Cucumis colocynthis L.);

 

bitter apple, bitter cucumber, egusi, or vine of Sodom, Colocynth, ‘Kadu Vrundavan’ ‘कडू वृंदावन’ in Marathi, Sanskrit– *Indravaaruni  इंद्रवारूणी / Indra  इंद्रा / Indravaaru इंद्रवारू / Gavaakshi गवाक्षी *Hindi– *Indrayan इंद्रायण *Bengali– *Raakhaalashasa राखालशसा *Punjabi– *KaudTumbha कौडतुम्‍भा *Gujarati– *Indrayana इंद्रायणा *Tamil– *Petikari पेतिकारी *Telgu– *Paaparbudam पापरबुडम् *Arabi– *Hanjal हंजल;

 

Trailing perennial herb with more or less scabrid parts; leaves deeply palmately lobed, the lobes subsequently pinnately cleft; flowers pale yellow about 5 mm across; ovary hairy; fruit globose, 5-6 cm across, with irregular white and green stripes or patches. 

 

We use its fruits for eliminating Vata dosha from our body;  

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This is a sister plant to watermelon. Citrullus colocynthis, called as Peikumatti in Tamil. 

Cucurbitac​eae Week: Citrullus colocynthis from Coimbatore.:  

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Thanks …. Harmful fruit but in Homeopathy it is excellent remedy for crampy pain in stomach. In Ayurveda, we use Helicteres isora for such pain.

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Thanks to share such important species. 
In kachchh district of Gujrat is also found in the wild and it is categorized as the species of conservation significance.
Can i know about its status in the national and world flora ??
Please help me by providing certain information about its autecology.

Cucurbitaceae week: Citrullus colocynthis from Gurgaon:

Citrullus colocynthis (Linn.) Schrad. in Linnaea. 12:414. 1838 syn: Cucumis colocynthis Linn. 

Common names: Colocynth, bitter apple

Sanskrit: Mahendravaruni

Urdu, Hindi Beng:: Tumba, Indryan

Guj: Indrak

Tam: Peykkumutti

Trailing perennial herb with more or less scabrid parts; leaves deeply palmately lobed, the lobes subsequently pinnately cleft; flowers pale yellow about 5 mm across; ovary hairy; fruit globose, 5-6 cm across, with irregular white and green stripes or patches.

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I have only seen the fruits on some occasions as the species is not found our area. We sometimes have this as a special thing, from Hissar or Sirsa districts as this is said to be antidiabetic..nice to see the flowers..

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Is the soil of your area highly saline?

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There are few patches in our area which have highly saline soil, much of which has been taken care of, thanks to Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), situated near city of Karnal, Haryana. Now we have very productive soils and mainly wheat-rice rotation is followed, we do not have much agro-biodiversity…

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Yes … is right This is a common wild cucurbit in Jind Hisar and Sirsa district of Haryana. We use its fruits for eliminating Vata dosha from our body

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Plant for ID: 110912:SS1: Cucurbitaceae plant from southern coastal Tamil Nadu:

Its Citrullus colocynthis of Cucurbitaceae family….commanly called as Indrayani.

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Saptur flora 150913 TBN 1 Cucurbitaceae for id :  Attachments (3). 4 posts by 2 authors.

Please identify this plant details of which are as follows:

Date : 09.06.13                                                            

Location :Saptur, Near Usilampatti, Madurai dt, Tamilnadu

Height :-

Fruits :round smaller than fist, 

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Please mention the size of ripe fruit.

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read it now less than fist size. C. colocynthis

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I am sorry, I had not taken measurements. I think it was smaller than a tennis ball but larger than a table tennis ball. Hope to take measurements when I see it next.

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Creeper for ID Tiruvannamalei, Tamil Nadu NAW-OCT-10 : 4 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (5). 

The ball shaped fruits are about 4-6 cm in diameter.

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Citrullus colocynthis

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these seeds have good nutritional values…
wiki has a lot a info
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrullus_colocynthis

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Citrullus colocynthis

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ANSEPT14/14 Cucurbitaceae for identification : 3 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (8) 

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Date: June 2015
Place: Bangalore, Karnataka
Habit: Climber
Habitat: Scrub forest (disturbed area)

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Citrullus colocynthis.

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Citrullus colocynthis ?? at Rajasthan : 2 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (3)

This climber was spotted at Sand dunes near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
Fruit was approx. 5sm in dia..
Could this be Citrullus colocynthis??
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Locals were reffreing it as Kadawi Kakadi..
Kindly validate the ID..

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SK926 02 JAN-2018 : 8 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (1)

Pl. check 

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Seems matching !

Nepali Names : इन्द्रबाहणी Indrabaahani/  इन्द्राणी Indraani/ इन्द्रेणी   

Citrullus colocynthis FOR VALIDATION :: Sam sand dunes, Jaisalmer :: 26 OCT 18 : 5 posts by 3 authors. 3 images.

Sam sand dunes  … the Thar desert, Jaisalmer

¿ Citrullus colocynthis ?   

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Yes. The id seems correct to me.

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Correct ID … Nice images.

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Citrullus colocynthis, 

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References: