Wax gourd

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Wax gourd
• Chinese preserving-melon
• Chinese-watermelon
• ash gourd
• ash-pumpkin
• wax gourd
• white gourd
• white-pumpkin
• winter-melon
• Winter Melon

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Benincasa vacua
• Benincasa hispida var. chieh-qua
• Cucurbita cerifera
• Cucurbita farinosa
• Cucurbita hispida
• Cucurbita littoralis
• Cucurbita villosa
• Gymnopetalum septemlobum
• Cucurbita pruriens
• Lagenaria dasystemon
• Benincasa cerifera
• Cucurbita alba
• Benincasa pruriens f. hispida
• Lagenaria vulgaris var. hispida
• Lagenaria siceraria var. hispida
• Cucurbita vacua
• Lagenaria leucantha var. hispida
• Pepo farinosus
• Pepo villosus
• Benincasa cerifera f. emarginata
• Benincasa sinensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Cucurbitales, falling into the family Cucurbitaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Benincasa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across several key regions of Asia. In China, its distribution is widespread, covering the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast areas. Moving further east, the species is also documented within the territory of Korea. Additionally, the plant can be found in the Indian Subcontinent, specifically in the Assam region. Together, these locations highlight its presence across diverse East and South Asian landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Benincasa hispida is characterized by its adaptation to lowland environments, typically flourishing within a specific altitudinal gradient. This species is predominantly found in low-lying areas, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 30 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 400 m AMSL. Within this vertical distribution, the plant thrives in warm, humid climates, often colonizing disturbed sites, forest edges, or cultivated agricultural landscapes where it can utilize available ground space. Its presence in these lower elevations suggests a preference for tropical or subtropical conditions where moisture levels and temperatures remain relatively consistent, facilitating its growth habit throughout its specified range.

Elevational range max:

400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Benincasa hispida is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, completing its entire biological cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its life strategy focuses on rapid growth and the production of abundant seeds to ensure survival through unfavorable periods, typically persisting in the environment only in the form of seeds. This life form allows the species to effectively colonize open spaces and exploit seasonal resources before the onset of dormant periods.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Benincasa hispida is characterized by its growth habit as a non-woody, climbing herb and forb. It functions as an obligatory vine, utilizing an ascending shoot orientation to navigate its environment. As an independent and terrestrial organism, it does not rely on other plants for nutrients nor does it grow as an epiphyte. The plant can reach a significant mean height of approximately 6 meters, allowing it to spread effectively through its climbing nature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

6 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Benincasa hispida is characterized by specific morphological and metabolic parameters, particularly regarding its foliage and nutrient acquisition strategies. The leaves exhibit a measurable variation in size, with lengths typically ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 15 cm. Structurally, the plant does not exhibit succulence, meaning it lacks specialized thickened tissues for significant water storage within its leaf parenchyma. Furthermore, in terms of its nitrogen cycle involvement, the species is not a nitrogen fixer, indicating that it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system rather than through symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Benincasa hispida is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The plant produces distinct yellow flowers that serve as visual cues for these pollinators. While it is capable of self-fertilization, the involvement of insect vectors is a key component of its reproductive cycle. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds that typically measure between 7 mm and 9 mm in length. The dispersal of these seeds is characterized by an anthropochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily spread through human activities.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

9 mm

Seed length min:

7 mm

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Benincasa hispida has 2 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, fruit.

Seed

1. International journal of peptides
2. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
3. Heliyon
4. Indian journal of experimental biology
5. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Fruit

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Chemicals

Benincasa hispida has 32 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include linoleic acid, Alnusenol, Ash, CALCIUM, Chitinase.

linoleic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of oleo science

Alnusenol

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Chitinase

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

Isomultiflorenyl acetate

1. Dr. Duke

Lupeol

1. Indian journal of experimental biology

Activities

Benincasa hispida has 289 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Acaricide.

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of peptides

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Benincasa hispida has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, arthritis, blood sugar, cancer, diabetes mellitus.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

1. Current drug discovery technologies

Arthritis

1. Indian journal of experimental biology

Blood sugar

1. The Indian journal of medical research

Cancer

1. Indian journal of experimental biology

Diabetes mellitus

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Diuresis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hyperuricemia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Inflammation

1. Indian journal of experimental biology

Thirst

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Benincasa hispida has 1 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include seeds.

Seeds

1. International journal of peptides
2. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry