Wax Gourd

Benincasa hispida

Physical Characteristics

Benincasa hispida is a ANNUAL growing to 6 m (19ft 8in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. It is in leaf from June to October, in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to November. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

Tropical Asia.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Fruit Leaves Seed Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked[74, 114]. Used as a vegetable, and in pickles, curries and preserves[1, 2, 27, 61, 183]. The fruit can be eaten when it is young or old[116], it can be picked as early as one week after fertilization[206]. A juicy texture with a mild flavour, the flavour is somewhat stronger in younger fruits[206]. Because of its waxy coating, it will store for several months, sometimes as long as a year[116, 206]. Mature fruits can vary in weight from 2 - 50 kg[206]. A nutritional analysis is available[218]. Young leaves and flower buds are steamed and eaten as a vegetable, or are added as a flavouring to soups[183, 200]. Seed - cooked[74, 114, 177, 183]. Rich in oil and protein.

Medicinal Uses

Anthelmintic Antiperiodic Aphrodisiac Cancer Demulcent Diuretic Epilepsy Expectorant Febrifuge Laxative Salve Tonic Urinary VD The wax gourd has been used as a food and medicine for thousands of years in the Orient. All parts of the fruit are used medicinally. The rind of the fruit is diuretic[218, 238]. It is taken internally in the treatment of urinary dysfunction, summer fevers etc[238]. The ashes of the rind are applied to painful wounds[218]. The seed is anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, laxative and tonic[218, 238]. A decoction is used internally in the treatment of vaginal discharges and coughs[238, 254]. In combination with Rheum palmatum it is used to treat intestinal abscesses[254]. In Ayurvedic medicine the seed is used in the treatment of coughs, fevers, excessive thirst and to expel tapeworms[254]. The oil from the seed is also used as an anthelmintic[240]. The fruit is antiperiodic, aphrodisiac, diuretic, laxative and tonic[240]. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine in the treatment of epilepsy, lung diseases, asthma, coughs etc[238]. The fruit juice is used in the treatment of insanity, epilepsy and other nervous diseases[240]. Recent research has shown that the fruits contain anti-cancer terpenes[238]. An infusion of the root is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[218]. Demulcent, salve. Facilitates pus drainage[147, 176, 178].

Known Hazards

None known