Coccinia grandis
Coccinia grandis, also known as the ivy gourd, is a tropical vine belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. It is native to Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands, and is considered an invasive species in some regions due to its rapid growth and ability to smother native vegetation.
Description[edit | edit source]
The Coccinia grandis is a perennial vine with tendrils, growing up to 3 meters in height. The leaves are simple, alternate, and have a heart-shaped base. The flowers are unisexual, with the male flowers being larger than the female ones. The fruit is a smooth, bright red berry when ripe, containing numerous seeds.
Cultivation and uses[edit | edit source]
Coccinia grandis is cultivated for its fruit, which is eaten as a vegetable in many parts of the world. The young leaves and shoots are also edible and are often used in stir-fry dishes. In traditional medicine, the plant is used to treat various ailments, including diabetes and skin diseases.
Invasive species[edit | edit source]
In some regions, such as Hawaii and the southern United States, Coccinia grandis is considered an invasive species. It can quickly overtake native vegetation, leading to a loss of biodiversity. Efforts are being made to control its spread and mitigate its impact on native ecosystems.
See also[edit | edit source]
🌱 | This Cucurbitaceae related article is a stub. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD