Trichosanthes dioica

Trichosanthes dioica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Cucurbitales
Family:	Cucurbitaceae
Genus:	Trichosanthes
Species:	T. dioica
Binomial name
	Trichosanthes dioica; Roxb.

Cooked stuffed fruit

Trichosanthes dioica, also known as pointed gourd,^[1] is a vine plant in the Cucurbitaceae family, similar to cucumber and squash, though unlike those it is perennial. It is a dioecious (male and female plants) vine (creeper) plant with heart-shaped leaves (cordate) and is grown on a trellis. The fruits are green with white or no stripes. Size can vary from small and round to thick and long — 2 to 6 inches (5 to 15 cm). It thrives well under a hot to moderately warm and humid climate. The plant remains dormant during the winter season and prefers a fertile, well-drained sandy loam soil due to its susceptibility to water-logging.

Vernacular names

Trichosanthes dioica is known as:

parwal or parval in Nepali, Hindi, and Gujarati
kambupudalai in Tamil^[2]
potals in Telugu (especially in Northeastern Andhra)
patolam in Malayalam
potol in Sanskrit, Bengali (pôţol), and Assamese
potala in Odia
paror in Maithili
parol in Magahi
parora in Bhojpuri, Urdu, and Awadhi

India

Colloquially, in India, it is called parval or green potato. It is widely cultivated in the eastern and some northern parts of India, particularly in North eastern Andhra, Odisha, Bengal, Assam, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. It is used as an ingredient for soup, stew, curry, sweet, or eaten fried and as potoler dorma or dolma (dolma) with fish, roe or meat stuffing.

Bangladesh and West Bengal

Pointed gourd is provincially known as potol in both of these Bengali speaking regions. It is a vital summer vegetable in Bangladesh and in West Bengal. It is cultivated and consumed in every part of Bangladesh and West Bengal. It is a perennial crop and sold at the end of October when there is a shortage of other alternative vegetables.^[3]

Nutrients

Pointed gourd is a good source of vitamins and minerals. It is a good source of carbohydrates, vitamin A, and vitamin C. It also contains major nutrients and trace elements (magnesium, potassium, copper, sulfur, and chlorine) which are needed in small quantities, for playing essential roles in human physiology. 9.0 mg Mg, 2.6 mg Na, 83.0 mg K, 1.1 mg Cu and 17 mg S per 100 g edible part.^[3]

References

↑ "Trichosanthes dioica". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 27 September 2015.
↑ Pointed Gourd Health Benefits, Usage – Ayurveda Details
1 2 Khatun, M; Malek, M. A.; Bari Miah, M. A.; Al-Amin, M.; Khanam, D. "In Vitro Regeneration In Pointed Gourd" (PDF). Bangladesh Research. Bangladesh Agricultural University. Retrieved 30 May 2015.

External links

Article about parwal from Fort Valley State University College of Agriculture

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[1] "Trichosanthes dioica". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 27 September 2015.

[2] Pointed Gourd Health Benefits, Usage – Ayurveda Details

[Khatun-3] 1 2 Khatun, M; Malek, M. A.; Bari Miah, M. A.; Al-Amin, M.; Khanam, D. "In Vitro Regeneration In Pointed Gourd" (PDF). Bangladesh Research. Bangladesh Agricultural University. Retrieved 30 May 2015.