Snake gourd

"Trichosanthes cucumerina" is a tropical or subtropical vine. Its variety "T. cucumerina" var. "anguina" raised for its strikingly long fruit. In Asia, it is eaten immature as a vegetable much like the summer squash and in Africa, the reddish pulp of mature snake gourd is used as an economical substitute for tomato. Common names for the cultivated variety include snake gourd, serpent gourd, chichinda and padwal.