2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Snake cucumber (lat. Trichosanthes cucumerina) - vegetable crop from the Pumpkin family.
Description
The snake cucumber is a herbaceous plant with stems in the form of vines, the fruits of which resemble in appearance well-known cucumbers. These long fruits are used in cooking in the same way as common cucumbers.
The flowers of the snake cucumber are so beautiful that it is simply impossible not to pay attention to them. The diameter of these flowers, which have an external resemblance to snowflakes, averages about four centimeters, and at the tips of each flower you can see funny threads, which begin to smell with an amazing and incredibly delicate aroma with the onset of evening.
However, the cylindrical fruits of this plant can boast of no less exoticism - their thickness ranges from four to five centimeters, and the length can reach one and a half meters! As for the weight, it often reaches one kilogram. Almost all fruits have a curved shape, outwardly resembling very bizarre snakes - it is this feature that explains the unusual name of this exotic vegetable. Ripening fruits are gradually covered with light stripes, becoming more "elegant", and begin to stretch under their own weight.
The skin of the fruit of the snake cucumber is rather thin, and under it is a slimy, tender and soft pulp. Mainly unripe specimens are used for food, painted in pleasant light green shades - the fact is that after the final ripening, when the pulp turns red and the skin turns orange, the fruits will no longer be so fragrant and tasty.
The taste of snake cucumbers vaguely resembles the taste of young crunchy cucumbers with a slight aftertaste of sweet radish.
Where grows
The snake cucumber is mainly cultivated in the tropical and subtropical regions of South and Southeast Asia. It can often be found in Australia. And recently, this vegetable has received the attention of Russian gardeners.
Usage
Snake cucumber is widely used in Asian cuisine - its unusual fruits can not only be eaten fresh, but also fried, canned, pickled and even boiled. By the way, the antennae, leaves and stalks of the snake cucumber are also edible - they are usually consumed by analogy with green vegetables.
This unusual plant is considered an excellent antiseptic, and also has a pronounced astringent and anti-inflammatory effect. If you need to lower your fever during colds or viral diseases, you should definitely try snake cucumber. In addition, the fruits of this plant will be excellent helpers for the treatment of various skin diseases (eczema, etc.) and inflammation. And they also have a diuretic effect on the body (however, like ordinary cucumbers).
Snake cucumber is widely used to treat whooping cough and certain lung diseases. And the regular use of decoctions or juices from this valuable vegetable helps to get rid of scars and scars.
Snake cucumber is also used in cosmetology - it is often added to various creams, ointments, masks and oils. And tinctures from these bizarre fruits promote the speedy healing of cuts, sores and wounds.
Contraindications
Since the fruits of snake cucumber are rich in fatty oil and starch, they are not recommended for diabetics to abuse - an unusual vegetable should be consumed in moderation and with some caution.
Growing and caring
It is recommended to grow snake cucumber on special supports. And in order to prevent the curvature of fancy fruits, it will not hurt to hang weights at their ends (ordinary stones or any other heavy objects can perform the function of such).
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