Cucurbitaceae 3

Well, i guess i'd nearly covered all of the vegetables found in the market survey under Cucurbitaceae. Here, i would like to include two more genus which are Cucumis and Citrullus.

Below are a few photos of cucumber belong to the genus of Cucumis. All of them are of the same species, Cucumis sativus L. although there are in different forms. They taste different too!

Name: Cucumis sativus L.

Common name: Cucumber, Mentimun (upper), Timun Cameron (middle), Timun tua (lower)

Uses: Mentimun and Timun Cameron are usually eaten raw while Timun tua is usually used to cook as soup

Availability: Pasar Siti Khatijah and Kea Farm market, Cameron Highlands (Timun Cameron)

Last but not least, i would like to introduce the melon which belong to the Citrullus genus. Does all the photos below looks almost the same? Well, i'm sure of the first one. That's our watermelon, Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsun & Nakai. Somehow, i'm not sure about the small version of melon (middle) and i think it might belong to the Cucumis genus. The last photo is another unique fruit that i discovered in Cameron being called as Sharkfins gourd. Didn't know what the name derived from and as i don't have the cross-section of it, i'm not sure which genus does it belong either Citrullus or Lagenaria. Anyone?

Cucurbitaceae 2

Besides Momordica and Cucurbita species, other genus available from the market survey from the pumpkin family are Lagenaria, Benincasa, Trichosanthes, Luffa and Sechium.


Below are the photos of some water gourds available in the market survey.



Name: Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.
Common name: Water gourd, labu air, labu kendi, labu siam
Uses: Can be eaten as vegetables and some bottle gourd are being dried and used as display
Availability: Pasar Siti Khatijah

Another common product being sold in the market is the angled loofah. Loofah belongs to the genus of Luffa.

Name: Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb.

Common name: Sponge gourd, ketola segi, si gua

Uses: Eaten as vegetables. Some drink the water to help in blood circulation

Availability: Pasar Siti Khatijah

Below is the photo of snake gourd that i capture at Teluk Intan market. It is usually sold by Indian vegetable seller. Somehow, it is also available at Pasar Siti Khatijah although it was sold out by the vendor when i reached the stall.

Name: Trichosanthes cucumerina L.

Common name: Snake gourd, Petola ular

Uses: Eaten as vegetables

Availability: Pasar Siti Khatijah

The wax gourd is another poduct usually being sold in the market by Chinese seller. It is famous among Chinese as it has cooling effect. It is usually being cooked as soup or dessert.

Name: Benincasa cerifera Savi

Common name: Wax gourd, Kundur, Tang gua

Uses: Eaten as vegetables or being made as dessert for its cooling effect

Availability: Pasar Siti Khatijah

Another product of Cucurbitaceae being sold in the market is Chayote.

Name: Sechium edule Sw.

Common name: Chayote, labu siam

Uses: Eaten as vegetables

Availability: Kea Farm market, Cameron Highlands