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3. Coccinea grandis Kurz in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 102. 1877. (Fig. 161).
CUCURBITACEAE
Coccinea cordifotta Cogn.—Coccinea indica W.&A.—Coccinea schimperi Naud.—Coccinea
wightiana Roem.—Cephalandra indica Naud.—Bryonia grandis Linn.—Bryonia palmate Wall.—
Momordica monadelpha Roxb.
Sinh. Kowakka, Kobowakka, Kem-wel; Tarn. Kovai. Kwai; Hindi Bhimb, Kanduri,
Kunderi; Sans. Bimba, Bimbaka, Bimbi, Bimbika, Chhardini, Dantachhadopama, Govhi,
Jhundikeshi, Kamboja, Karmmakari, Katubimbi, Katuka, Katutundika, Oshthi, Oshtopamaphala,
Piluparni, Raktaphala, Ruchiraphala, Tiktabimbi, Tiktatundi, Tundi, Tundika, Tundikeri,
Tundiparyyayaga, Vimba.
A perennial climber with slender, cylindrical, glabrous stems and simple tendrils; leaves
simple, alternate, 5—10 cm long, 4.5—9 cm broad, variable in form, usually broadly cordate—
ovate in outline with the basal sinus triangular, obtuse, apiculate, more or less 5-lobed, distantly
dentate, quite glabrous on both sides, rather succulent, dull green above, glaucous beneath,
ciliate along the margin, finely punctate, provided with several large flat circular glands near
the axils of veins beneath, specially at the base, petioles 2—3.2 cm long; flowers
regular, unisexual white with green veins, dioecious, solitary, axillary, peduncles 1-flowered;
male flowers: peduncles 4—6.5cm long,subfiliform; sepals 5, fused into a broadly campanulate
glabrous calyx-tube, 4.5 mm long, calyx teeth 2.5 mm long and linear; corolla campanulate
of 5, fused petals, 2.5 cm long, veined, pubescent inside, glabrous outside, segments triangular
1.6 cm long; stamens 3, anthers connate, cells conduplicate, filaments free; female flowers:
peduncles 3—3.5 cm long; perianth similar to male flower; staminodes 3, subulate, 2.5 mm
long, hairy at base: ovary inferior, glabrous, fusiform, 1.3—1.5 cm long with parietal placentas,
style short, stigmas 3, long and hairy; fruit 2.5—5 cm long, fusiform—ovoid, cylindrical,
slightly beaked, marked when immature with white streaks, bright scarlet when fully ripe; seeds
oblong—ovoid, much compressed, smooth, yellowish—grey.
Flowers from June to August.
Illustrations. Wight, III. Indian Bot. pi. 105. 1841—1850; Kirtikar and Basu, Indian
Med. Plants, pi. 462/1. 1933.
Distribution. Occurs throughout India, Ceylon, Malaya and tropical Africa. In Ceylon,
it is common in the low-country especially in dry regions in bushy places. Jaffna, Anuradhapura,
Polonnaruwa, Ritigala, Hunnasgiriya, Colombo, Galle, Matara, etc.
Ceylon. Thwaites CP. 1609; North Central Prov. Anuradhapura, Nuwara-Wewa bund,
Simpson 9360, March 1932; Polonnaruwa, Alston 571, May 1927: Ritigala, Willis, March 1905.
Composition. This plant contains an enzyme, a hormone and traces of an alkaloid.
Uses. The leaves are applied on eruptions of the skin such as ringworm, itch, psoriasis,
etc., and the plant taken internally in decoction for gonorrhoea and diabetes. It is useful for
dropsical conditions and in acute and chronic pyelitis, cystitis and strangury. It has antilithic
properties of some value and is largely .employed for urinary gravel and calculi. The leaves are
also cooked and eaten. The bark of the root is a good cathartic. The fruits and leaves are used
in the treatment of snake-bite.
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