Trichosanthes kirilowii
Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim.
Trichosanthes kirilowii is a flowering plant in the family Cucurbitaceae found particularly in Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, and Shaanxi (China).
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Trichosanthes kirilowiiTrichosanthes kirilowii
Trichosanthes kirilowii
Trichosanthes kirilowii
Trichosanthes kirilowii
Trichosanthes kirilowiiTrichosanthes kirilowiiTrichosanthes kirilowiiOverview
Trichosanthes kirilowii is a flowering plant in the family Cucurbitaceae found particularly in Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, and Shaanxi (China). It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it shares the name guālóu (Chinese: 栝蔞) with the related T. rosthornii.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
It is known as "Chinese cucumber" and "Chinese snake gourd" in English.
Updated by lebachungtdh@gmail.com · 10/15/2026
Life cycle
From seed to productSeed tuber
Healthy **seed tubers** are cut into pieces with 2–3 eyes (or small tubers planted whole) and set in moist soil.
Tuber sprouting
Eyes break dormancy and shoots emerge while the root system develops.
Growth & flowering
The plant blooms with **white fringed flowers, June–August**; pollination is by insects and wind.
New tubers & harvest
Foliage dies back and reserves move into the underground storage organ; **fruits and 3–5-year-old roots harvested in autumn**.
Uses
- It is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, where it shares the name guālóu (Chinese: 栝蔞) with the related T.
Habitat & conservation
Trichosanthes kirilowii is a flowering plant in the family Cucurbitaceae found particularly in Henan, Shandong, Hebei, Shanxi, and Shaanxi (China).
Conservation
Trichosanthes kirilowii has not been assessed by the IUCN Red List (NE). As a medicinal plant, it benefits from sustainable collection and propagation to protect wild genetic resources.
References
- 1Wikipedia – Trichosanthes kirilowii — Wikipedia,
- 2Kew POWO – Trichosanthes kirilowii — Plants of the World Online (Kew),
- 3Wikidata – Q847006 — Wikidata,