1. Trichosanthes dioica Roxb., Fl. Ind. 3:701. 1832. Clarke in Hook. f., l.c. 609; Cogn., l.c. 385; Chakravarty, l.c.54; R.R. Stewart in Nasir & Ali, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. Pak. & Kashm. 706. 1972; C. Jeffrey, Kew Bull. 34:798. 1980.
Vern.: Palwal; Parol; Petal.
S. NAZIMUDDIN AND S. SHAHARYAR H. NAQVI
A dioecious climbing herb, with bifid sulcate tendrils. Stem villous and scabrous. Leaves 7-10 cm long, 4-8 cm broad, ovate-oblong, subscabrous, cordate, sinuate dentate, neither angled nor lobed, acute; petiole c.l. 5 cm long, villous. Male peduncles paired, both 1-flowered, 2-3 cm long, puberulous; female flowers solitary on 2-4 mm long peduncles. Calyx-tube somewhat cylindric, broadened at apex, villous, c. 4 mm across at apex, lobes linear, c. 4-5 mm long. Petals oblong, fimbriate. Staminal filaments very short, anthers free. Ovary oblong, villous; style filiform. Fruit oblong, 5-12 x 2-6 cm, glabrous, orange-red, pointed at both ends. Seeds subglobose, 6-7 mm long, 5-6 mm broad.
Fl. Per.: June-October.
Lectotype: l.c. Roxb. 1090 (K).
Distribution: Pakistan, India, Bangla Desh, Burma and Sri Lanka.
Sometimes cultivated in Pakistan (Punjab) for its edible fruits.
