SNAKE GOURD

either of two rapid-growing vines (Trichosanthes anguina and T. cucumeroides), of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), native to southeastern Asia and Australia but cultivated throughout the world for its edible, oddly shaped fruits. A snake gourd plant has two- or three-forked tendrils, white flowers that have long fringes on the petals, and, in the former species, long, slightly ribbed green fruits, often 1.5 to 2 metres (5 to 6 feet) in length, that taper at each end. T. cucumeroides has ovoid fruit 5 to 8 centimetres (2 to 3 inches) long, which when dried can be used as a soap substitute.