Family: Cucurbitaceae

Common Name: तुंबा, कडू वृंदावन

Etymology - Genus: Diminutive of Citrus, referring to the colour of the flesh

Etymology - Species: From the Greek kolokunthis (round gourd, such as a pumpkin)

Ecosystem: Perennial

Origin: Native

Location: Rajasthan

Description: Perennial climber, spreading along the ground, resembling watermelon. Found in abundance in Marvaad region of Rajasthan. Vine dries up in summer but revives itself in a suitable condition.Simple leaf with a presence of tendril opposite to the leaf.Leaf with palmate lobes, lobes subsequently pinnately cleft (lobes further split into pinnate shape). Petiole and leaf lamina with stiff hairs.Flowers are solitary.Male and female flowers are born on same plant. Male flowers are produced in large number.Female flower has a small ovary below the calyx.Young fruit has green stripes. It is perfectly circular, shining, yellow size of an orange when mature. It is extremely bitter and is not eaten my any animal. Seeds are embedded in a white pulp, shining brown in colour.

Root type: Taproot

Stem Appearance: Climber

Stem Cross Section: Angled

Stem Texture: White, hairy

Root-Stem-Bark Description: Perennial climber, spreading along the ground, resembling watermelon. Found in abundance in Marvaad region of Rajasthan. Vine dries up in summer but revives itself in a suitable condition.

Leaf - Characters

Attachment: Petiolate

Stipules: Tendrillar

Leaf Type: Simple

Phyllotaxy: Alternate-Spiral

Leaf Description: Simple leaf with a presence of tendril opposite to the leaf.

Leaflet - Characters

Lamina: Palmate

Lamina Bases:

Lamina Margins: Undulate

Lamina Apices: Rounded apice

Lamina Texture: Hirsute

Venation: Reticulate-Unicostate

Leaflet Description: Leaf with palmate lobes, lobes subsequently pinnately cleft (lobes further split into pinnate shape). Petiole and leaf lamina with stiff hairs.

Fruit type: Berry

Fruit type Description: Young fruit has green stripes. It is perfectly circular, shining, yellow size of an orange when mature. It is extremely bitter and is not eaten my any animal.

Seed Type: Dicotyledon

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Seed Description: Seeds are embedded in a white pulp, shining brown in colour.