Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt
Ivy Gourd / Pepasan (M.)
Description
Traditional Medicinal Uses
Ecology
Propagation
Distribution
Precaution
Perennial climber that can grow up to 20 m long. Leaves are simple, placed alternately, palmately lobed and abaxially covered with several glands. Leaf blade is obtuse at apex, cordate at base with entire or wavy margin. Stems are slender, slightly woody, branching and glabrous. Tendrils are thread-like and glabrous. Inflorescence a solitary arising at leaf axils. Flowers are star- shaped and white or slightly yellow. Fruit an ellipsoid or ovoid, red berry. Seeds are yellow, oblong with both surfaces densely marked with dots.
The twigs, calyx or the leaf-stalks are broken to extract the latex, the latex is applied to
It is commonly found in cultivated fields, in gardens, along roadsides, along streams and on edges of woods. It prefers moist sandy loamy soil under sunny position.
Seeds and stem cutting.
Native to East Africa and has been introduced to Australia, the Caribbean, southern USA and the Pacific region.
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