CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

Ivy Gourd / Kunduru

Coccinia grandis L.

Botanical name	: Coccinia grandis L. .
Common Name	: Ivy Gourd / Kunduru
Family	: Cucurbitaceae
Synonym	: Coccinia cordifolia auct. non (L.) Cogn
About	: C. grandis is a fast-growing perennial vine that grows several meters long. It can form dense mats that readily cover shrubs and small trees. Leaves are arranged alternately along the stems, they vary from heart to pentagon shape and are up to 10 cm wide and long. The upper leaf surface is hairless, whereas the lower surface is hairy. 3-8 glands on the blade near the leaf stalk. Tendrils are simple. C. grandis is dioecious (male flowers are produced on separate plants to female flowers). Flowers are large, white and star-shaped. The calyx has five subulate, recurved lobes. The corolla is campanulate, white, 3-4.5 cm long, deeply divided into five ovate lobes. Each flower has three stamens (present as staminodes in female flowers). The fruit is red (when ripe), ovoid to elliptical, 25-60 mm long, hairless .Seeds are tan-coloured and 6-7 mm long. It originally belonged to East Africa but now is introduced to Australia, U.S.A and Pacific region. It is invasive in nature and is known to kill native vegetation. The fruit is sold as vegetable. In traditional medicine it is used to treat leprosy, fever etc.