,r\/*> - National Science Foundation

17. Momordica dioica Roxb. in Willd. Sp. PI. 4: 605. 1805. (Fig. 175).
CUCURBITACEAE
Momordica balsamina Wall.—Momordica wallichU Roem.—Momordica renigera Wall.--
Momordica hamiltoniana Wall.—Momordica heyneana Wall.—Momordica missionis Wall —
Momordica subangulata Bl.—Trichosanthes russeliana Wall.—Bryonia grandis Wall.
Sinh. Thumbakariwila; Tarn. Palupalagakalungai, Paluppakkay, Tumbai; Hindi
Beksa, Ghosalphal, Golkandra; Sans. Avandhya, Bhaktadamani, Bodhanajali, Bhutapaha,
Devi, Diva, Ishwari, Kandashalini, Kandavalli, Kama, Karkotaki, Mahajati Mahajalinika,
Mahayogeshwari, Manasvini, Manodna, Nagahantri, Nagarati, Nagari, Nakradamani, Pathya,
Pitapushpi, Putrada, Sakanda, Sarpadamani, Sarvanshadi, Srikanda, Sugandha, Vahisi,
Vandhya, Vandhyakarkolaki, Vara, Vishakandakini. Vishakantakini, Vishamo-haprashamani,
Yogeswari.
A dioecious, perennial, tendril climber with tuberous roots; stems slender,
somewhat compressed and 2-edged or cylindric and furrowed, striate, glabrous or somewhat
scantily pubescent and shining; tendrils simple, elongate, striate, glabrous, opposite a leaf;
leaves simple, alternate, variable, 5—10 cm long. 4—7 cm broad, broadly ovate in outline,
very cordate at base, acute, entire or more or less deeply cut into 3 or 5 lobes, distantly dentate
or denticulate, thin, quite glabrous and shining on both sides, minutely punctate beneath; petioles
2.5—3.7 cm long, pubescent or glabrous, channelled above, eglandular; flowers regular,
unisexual, pale lemon yellow, dioecious, solitary, peduncle 3—5 cm long, slender, glabrous or
finely pubescent at the top, in the male with a large hooded bract a little below the flower and
enclosing it, in the female with a minute bract below the middle; sepals 5, fused at the base,
distant, 3-5 mm long, linear-lanceolate, hairy; petals 5, connate slightly at the -base,
1.2—2.5 cm long, 0.5 cm broad, oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, pubescent; male flowers:
stamens 3, anthers slightly connate, cells conduplicate; female flowers: ovary inferior, densely
covered with long, soft papillae, style short,stigmas bifid with erect horns;fruit oblong-ovoid,
5—6.3 cm long, beaked, glabrous, evenly covered with equal-pointed papillae, many seeded;
seeds broadly oblong, compressed, slightly and irregularly corrugated, enclosed in a red pulp.
Flowers from June to August.
Illustrations. Wight, Ic. PI. Ind. Orient, pis. 505 and 506. 1840—1843; Kirtikar and Basu,
Indian Med. Plants, pis. 453 and 454. 1933, same as Wight Ic: Herb. Peradeniya, drawing
(male flowers incorrect).
Distribution. Occurs throughout India, Ceylon and Singapore. In Ceylon, it is common
in the low-country especially in the dry regions.
India. Sylhet: Chattuk, Clarke 17388, male plant. Bengal: Clarke 14147, Aug. 1871.
Ceylon. Central Prov, Dambulla, J. M. Silva, Feb. 1928. Southern Prov.,GaUe, Thwaites CP. 197.
Uses. The leaves of the female plant are used as an aphrodisiac, anthelmintic and in
asthma, bronchitis, hiccough and piles. The tuberous root is an expectorant and used in urinary
complaints. The roasted root is applied to stop bleeding from piles. The fruit is a stomachic,
laxative and cures asthma, leprosy, bronchitis, excessive salivation and heart ailments.
The root of the male plant is useful in all kinds of poisoning, including snake-bites, and for
elephantiasis. It cures ulcers caused by snake-bite poisoning.
157