fluted gourd

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• fluted gourd
• fluted-pumpkin
• oysternut

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Telfairia occidentalis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Cucurbitales. Finally, it is a member of the family Cucurbitaceae and is categorized under the genus Telfairia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Telfairiia occidentalis, is primarily distributed throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Within this specific geographical zone, it can be found growing across several different nations. It is notably present in the coastal and inland areas of Benin and Guinea. Furthermore, the species maintains a significant presence in the Ivory Coast and Liberia. Its distribution also extends extensively through the diverse landscapes of Nigeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Telfairia occidentalis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, though its growth patterns can exhibit variable behavior depending on environmental conditions and management practices. As a perennial species, it possesses the capacity to persist through multiple growing seasons, often behaving with the characteristics of an annual or biennial in certain agricultural settings where it is treated as a seasonal crop. The life cycle typically begins with the germination of seeds, followed by a rapid vegetative growth phase where large, fleshy leaves are developed to maximize photosynthetic efficiency. Following this vegetative stage, the plant undergoes a reproductive phase marked by the production of inflorescences and subsequent flowering. The lifecycle concludes its seasonal cycle with the maturation of its distinctive seeds, which can remain dormant or serve as the basis for the next generation, allowing the plant to maintain its presence within its tropical habitat over an extended period.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Telfairiia occidentalis is characterized by a versatile growth form, primarily manifesting as an herb or herbaceous plant. It exhibits a climbing habit, functioning as a vine or liana that can be categorized as an obligatory climber. In terms of stature, the plant can reach a substantial height, with a mean measurement recorded at approximately 22.74 meters. The structural composition of the plant shows variable woodiness, transitioning between non-woody and woody states depending on developmental stages or environmental conditions.

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Growth form :

herb

Plant height mean:

22.74018532 m

Woodiness :

variable

Physiology

The physiology of Telfairia occidentalis is characterized by a robust metabolic framework optimized for tropical environments, involving complex processes of photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and secondary metabolite synthesis. As a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, the plant exhibits a specialized C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing large, broad leaves to maximize light interception and carbon assimilation. Regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with rhizobia required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, meaning it relies heavily on the assimilation of nitrates and ammonium present in the soil substrate. Its physiological processes include an efficient transpiration stream driven by root pressure and xylem transport to maintain leaf turgidity and facilitate the distribution of essential minerals. Furthermore, the plant undergoes intricate biochemical pathways to produce bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and vitamins, which are synthesized as part of its defense mechanisms and metabolic regulation.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Telfairia occidentalis is driven by biotic pollination syndromes, primarily involving insects and specifically bees, which facilitate the transfer of pollen. The species exhibits an absence of self-fertilization, suggesting a reliance on cross-pollination to maintain genetic diversity. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fleshy fruits that house the seeds. These seeds are characterized by a consistent and substantial size, with a recorded seed mass of 17.5 g (mean, minimum, and maximum) and a uniform seed volume of 23,000 mm³ (mean, minimum, and maximum).

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

17.5 g

Seed volume max:

23000 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Telfairia occidentalis has 5 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, root, seed, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
2. Toxicology reports
3. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
4. Metabolism open
5. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Fruit

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Root

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Seed

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Stem

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Chemicals

Telfairia occidentalis has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Methyl 9-cis-11-trans-octadecadienoate, Polyphenol, arginine, aspartate, cysteine.

Methyl 9-cis-11-trans-octadecadienoate

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Polyphenol

1. Journal of food biochemistry

arginine

1. Journal of food biochemistry

aspartate

1. Journal of food biochemistry

cysteine

1. Journal of food biochemistry

luteolin

1. Journal of food biochemistry

quercitrin

1. Journal of food biochemistry

Activities

Telfairia occidentalis has 1 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hypercholesterolemic.

Hypercholesterolemic

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Conditions

Telfairia occidentalis has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include edema, sickle cell disorder, typhoid fever.

Edema

1. Journal of medicinal food

Sickle cell disorder

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Typhoid fever

1. The Central African journal of medicine

Preparations

Telfairia occidentalis has 8 reported preparations identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract, Leaf paste, Phenolics fraction, aqueous leaves extract, ethanolic fruit extract.

Aqueous extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Leaf paste

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Phenolics fraction

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Aqueous leaves extract

1. Toxicology reports

Ethanolic fruit extract

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Extract

1. Nigerian journal of physiological sciences : official publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria

Flavonoid fraction

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Hydroethanolic leaf extract

1. Journal of medicinal food