Fruits & Vegetables week: Cyclanthera pedata from Manali

[Gurcharan Singh]

Cyclanthera pedata (L.) Schrad., Index Seminum (GOET) 1831: 2 1831

Herbaceous climber, often grown as vegetable in Hill stations in India common in Manali and Sikkim

Common English names: Wild cucumber

Locally in Indian hill stations as Karela or even meetha karela (the name meetha karela actually belongs to Momordica dioica). The pedate leaves and smaller white flowers are distinctive, although young fruits carry spines like Momordica dioica.

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Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/