| Etymology | Genus | Unknown |
|---|---|---|
| Species | After Madras, a city in India | |
| Family | Cucurbitaceae | |
| Synonyms | Cucumis maderaspatanus L., Melothria maderaspatana (L.) Cogn. | |
| Common Names | Madras Pea Pumpkin | |
| Status | Exotic: Naturalised | |
| Form | Climber | |
| Native Distribution | Africa, and China down to Australia | |
Diagnostics:
Mukia maderaspatana is a climber common in urban areas and scrublands. The leaves are cordate with toothed edges, and may be lobed. The entire plant is densely covered by white hairs, giving a rough feel.
Interesting Facts:
The leaves of the Madras Pea Pumpkin is eaten in Indian communities (Petrus, et al., 2011). It is also known to contain anti-oxidative and anti-diabetic constituents.
Climbing form of the Madras Pea Pumpkin.
Leaf.
Tendril.
White hairs.
Flower.
Fruits, ripe and unripe.
References
Petrus AJA, Bhuvaneshwari & Alain JAL. (2011) Antioxidative constitution of Mukia maderaspatana (Linn.) M. Roem. leaves. Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources, 21: 34-43.Srilatha BR & Ananda S. (2014) Antidiabetic effects of Mukia maderaspatana and its phenolics: an in vitro study on gluconeogenesis and glucose uptake in rat tissues. Pharmaceutical Biology, 52: 597-602.
Author: Siyang
Posted: 2015-02-01 / Modified: 2017-12-25
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