Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.

• Family: Cucurbitaceae
• Vernacular names: Elavan, Kumbalam, Neyakumbalam, ഇളവൻ, കുമ്പളം, നെയ്യ്‌കുമ്പളം (Malayalam), Ash gourd, White gourd melon (English), Kushmanda (Sanskrit), Raksa (Hindi), Pushani Kai (Tamil)
• Distribution: Wild in Java; now widely naturalized in Tropical Asia
• Description: Monoecious, hispid climbers. Leaves large, orbicular-cordate, 5-7 lobed. Flowers axillary, solitary, yellow. Fruits large, succulent; seeds ovoid, compressed, yellowish-white, marginate.
• Habit: Climbers/Lianas
• Habitat: Cultivated
• Flowering & Fruiting: June-October

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• Parts used: Fruits, leaves and seeds
• Properties & Uses: Cooling, diuretic, laxative, aphrodisiac and antiperiodic. Fruits are useful in asthma, cough, diabetes, epilepsy and fever. Seeds are used for the treatment of cough, fever, syphilis, hyperdipsia.
• Systems of Medicines: Ayurveda, Folk, Unani,
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