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Common Names
White Gourd, Wax Gourd, Petha.
About 
Taxonomy
Click to access the GRIN database record about the specific taxonomical hierarchy (Family, Genus etc.).
to access the GRIN database record about the specific taxonomical hierarchy (Family, Genus etc.).CLASSIFICATION
TAXON
Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.
FAMILY
Cucurbitaceae Juss.
ALTERNATE FAMILY
nom. cons.
TRIBE
Cucurbitoideae
SUBTRIBE
Benincaseae
CLASSIFICATION
Benincasinae
GENUS
Benincasa Savi
SPECIES
hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. A. L. P. P. de Candolle & A. C. de Candolle, Monogr. phan. 3:513. 1881
Plant Description
Stem much branched. Petiole long-villous. Leaves reniform-rotundate, base deeply cordate. upper surface pilose or scabrous, lower surface shortly hispid, lamina 10-25 cm long and as broad, 5-7-lobed, lobes ovate-triangular, margin sinuate, dentate or crenulate. Tendrils slender, rarely simple, or 2-4-fid. Peduncle hirsute. Male inflorescence 5-15 cm long, female 2-4 cm long. Calyx tube 10-15 mm long, densely hairy, lobes lanceolate, acute, 6-12 mm long. Petals spreading, obtuse-mucronate, 3-5 x 2-4 cm. Staminal filaments inflated and hispid at the base, anthers trilobed. Ovary 2-4 cm long; style 2-3 mm long. Fruit fleshy, 25-50 x 10-25 cm, densely hairy when young, waxy when mature. Seeds compressed, ovoid, white, c. 10 x 6 mm.
