Cucurbitaceae FAMILY

Trichosanthes pilosa

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Trichosanthes pilosa is a perennial, climbing plant producing stems that can sprawl over the ground or climb into other plants for support, attaching themselves by means of tendrils. The plant is cultivated, especially in China, for its edible fruit and root, and also for traditional medicinal purposes[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeE. Asia - northern India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, western and southern China, Japan, Philippines to New Guinea and northern Australia

HabitatFertile and damp places in mountain wilds in China[ 147 Title A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Publication Author ? Publisher Running Press; Philadelphica. Year 1977 ISBN 0-914294-92-X Description A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods. ]. Brushwoods along valleys, open forests on mountain slopes; at elevations from 700 - 2,500 metres[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].