Trichosanthes elmeri

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Trichosanthes elmeri

Description

Climber, 5-10 m long, early glabrescent, at first minutely brown hairy, stem 2-4 mm diam.; Leaves: Fruit ripening orange-red, often paler striped, (narrowly) ovoid or ovoid-ellipsoid, 12-20 by 5-10 cm, apex c. 4 mm beaked; Seeds blackish brown, compressed, (narrowly) or broadly ovate, or subcircular, 16-20 by 11-20 by 3-4.5 mm, base subtruncate, apex ± acute or obtuse, margin broad but obscure, edge entire.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present, Singapore present); Philippines (Philippines present); Sumatera (Sumatera present), Palawan present
Malesia: Sumatra, whole of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, whole of Borneo, and Philippines (Palawan).

Taxonomy

Trichosanthes elmeri is a variable species, with less robust specimens sometimes linking up with T. wawrae. The collections Chai S 34181, Mamit S 32647 and Othman et al. S 37534, all from West Sarawak, have thinner leaves and long fruiting pedicels, 1.5-3 cm long.

Citation

W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes 2001 – In: Beaman et al., Pl. Mt. Kinabalu: 210
Rugayah & W.J.de Wilde 1999 – In: Reinwardtia: 258
Merr. 2004 – In: Sandakania: 17
Rugayah 1999: Trichosanthes (Cucurbitaceae) in Malesia, thesis: 105