Creeping Cucumber

The scientific name of Creeping Cucumber: melothria-pendula (Lam.) Gandhi

Name of Creeping Cucumber in different languages:

English: Diversely-leaved melothria, Clasping-stemmed solena

Sanscrit: अम्ळवेतसः Amlavetasah

Hindi: अमन्तमूल Amantamul, तरली Tarali, बन काकड़ा Ban Kakra

Malayalam: Njerinjampuly ഞെരിഞമ്പുളി

Plant description of Creeping Cucumber

Creeping Cucumber or Karivalli (Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) Gandhi) is commonly found in deciduous forests and plain areas, it is a climber vine, that climbs with the help of tendrils. Leaves are green, 4 to 12 cm long and 2.5 to 7 cm broad, ovate to oblong, five-angled, apex acuminate, and scabrid. Fruits are green with white dots, sized 1.5 to 2 cm long and 1 to 1.5 cm broad, apically beaked, and ribbed.

Useful plant parts: Root, leaf, fruit.

Medicinal uses: to treat Asthma, cough

One of the ingredients in the Ayurveda medicines like:-

• Dadhika Ghrita
• Lashunadi Ghrita
• Vyoshadi Vatakam