Trichosanthes ovigera

Trichosanthes ovigera Bl., Bijdr. 934 1826. (syn: Anguina ovigera (Bl.) Kuntze; Trichosanthes chingiana Hand.-Mazz.; Trichosanthes hearnii F. Muell. ex Benth.; Trichosanthes himalensis C. B. Clarke; Trichosanthes himalensis var. indivisa Chakr.; Trichosanthes himalensis var. sikkimensis (Kundu) Thothathri; Trichosanthes ovigera var. sikkimensis Kundu; Trichosanthes rostrata Kitam.);
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Tropical Asia to NE Queensland, Vanuatu: Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, East Himalaya, Jawa, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Queensland, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Himalaya as per POWO;
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C.B.Clarke ; leaves palmately 3-lobed deeply cor¬date villous or pubescent beneath, bracts lanceolate incise-serrate, fruit 3-4 in. long-cylindric tapering at both ends. T. cordata, Wall. Cat. 6686 B. Cucurbita ficifolia, Wall. Cat. 6721.
SIKKIM, alt. 2000-5000 ft. from Yoksun to the plains ; J. D. H., C.B.Clarke.
Stems extensively climbing, with the petioles and leaves pubescent and hairy. Dioecious. Leaves 5 in., usually deeply palmate, irregularly serrate ; tendrils 3-fid. Male peduncles 3-4 in., bracts 1/2-3/4 in. Calyx-tube 1.1/2-2 in., very narrow, little hairy without. Fruit 3-4 by 1-1.1/4 in., nearly circular in section. Seeds 1/4-1/3 in. diam., polymorphous, sometimes obovoid the broader part subtrimerous, sometimes drum-shaped.—Certain seeds were sent by Dr. Anderson to Naudin, who grew them and has placed the resulting leaves in the Kew Herbarium accompanied by a drawing of the seed, and has attached the name Platygonia himalensis thereto. These leaves may belong to the present species.
(Attributions- IBIS Flora (FBI))
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SK 2300 19 November 2019 : 3 posts by 2 authors. 2 very high res. images.

Location: Matatirtha, Kathmandu
Date: 19 October  2019
Elevation: 1546 m.
Habit : Wild
Trichosantrhes pilosa Lour. or something else?

There are three different species of Trichosanthes pilosa as per Catalogue of Life.
Trichosanthes pilosa Lour. is not reported in Checklist of Nepal
From other two, Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. fruit look round as per images and details herein. Fruit look similar to Trichosanthes cucumerina var. cucumerina, but seeds look different as per FOC illustration.


Trichosanthes pilosa
I guess fruit (except for base) and seed description matching !

Yes, … Flora of China illustrates T.pilosa (syn. T.ovigera Blume- which is mentioned in the Checklist of Nepal). Fruit matches with GBIF– specimen.
POWO and CoL, treat it (T.ovigera Blume) as an independent species, with distribution in Nepal.


I guess it is more close to Trichosanthes cucumerina L.


Yes, in the absence of leaves, I also think this is a better option.


Please have a look at these links.

https://ppbc.iplant.cn/sp/23325


Trichosanthes cucumeroides (Ser.) Maxim. ex Franch. & Sav.  ??


https://www.dreamstime.com/trichosanthes-cucumeroides-japanese-snake-gourd-fruits-trichosanthes-cucumeroides-japanese-snake-gourd-fruits-cucurbitaceae-image289516296.


https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345961794_A_new_distribution_record_of_Trichosanthes_cucumeroides_Ser_Maxim_ex_Franch_Sav_Cucurbitaceae_in_Korea


Fruit and seed shapes look different


The Seed shape looks matching and the fruit shape may be variable.

By the way, any opinion from your side regarding the possible ID.
The seed shape does not match with any species from Nepal.

To me, it looks different.


I guess seed shapes are matching with Trichosanthes ovigera Blume.


Oh!!! Wah!!!
Check fruits also.

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References:
POWO  Catalogue of Life  The Plant List Ver.1.1  GBIF– specimen (High resolution specimens)  Flora of China  Checklist of Nepal   India Biodiversity Portal  IBIS Flora (FBI) Biotik  Kerala plants Wikipedia  PFAF  Wikimedia Commons  Useful Tropical Plants

Updated on September 10, 2026

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