西葫芦 xi hu lu

Plants climbing. Stem setose and scabrous-hairy. Petiole setose, 6-9 cm; leaf blade triangular or ovate-triangular, both surfaces scabrous-hairy, base cordate, margin irregularly dentate, apex acute. Tendrils many fid. Plants monoecious; flowers solitary; pedicel angular, 3-6 cm, yellow-brown setose; calyx tube 5-angled; segments linear-lanceolate; corolla campanulate, ca. 5 × 3 cm; segments erect, apex acute; stamens 3; filaments ca. 15 mm; anthers connivent, ca. 10 mm; ovary ovoid, 1-locular. Fruiting pedicel robust, conspicuously angular-sulcate, apex slightly thickened; fruit variable in shape and size. Seeds numerous, white, ovate, ca. 20 mm, marginate and obtuse. Fl. and fr. May-Nov.

Commonly cultivated throughout China [native to North America; cultivated in tropical and temperate regions].

The fruit is used as a vegetable.