Ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis)

Kemarungan or ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis) is a species of plant in the Cucurbitaceae, growing climbing with single tendrils, cylindrical stems, green, growing in forests, agricultural land, roadsides and along watercourses.

C. grandis has leaves with long stalks, 5 lobes, 6.5-8.5 cm long, 7-8 cm wide, radial pulse base, jagged margins, upper surface green and glabrous.

The female and male flowers appear in the axils of the leaves with 3 stamens. The fruit is long oval, green or red and juicy.

The fruit is used to treat leprosy, fever, asthma, bronchitis, jaundice and treat diabetes. This fruit has mast cell stabilizing, antianaphylactic and antihistamine potential. The root is used to treat osteoarthritis and joint pain. A paste made from the leaves is applied to the skin to treat scabies.

The fruit is eaten raw or cooked into subs and curries. Fried leaves for vegetables.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Tribe: Benincaseae
Genus: Coccinia
Species: Coccinia grandis

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