Botanical name: Solena amplexicaulis    Family: Cucurbitaceae (Pumpkin family)
Synonyms: Bryonia amplexicaulis, Bryonia solena, Cucurbita sagittata

Creeping cucumber is an extensive vine up to 6 m, almost hairless; dioecious. Leaves are ovate or narrowly elliptic, 2.5-8 by 2-5 cm, 5-angular or deeply and narrowly arrow-shaped, base deeply heart-shaped or arrow-shaped, tip rounded or pointed, often about 2 mm with a short sharp point, margin remotely toothed, basal nerves 3-5, leaf-stalk 0.2-0.4 cm long. Male flowers are borne on a 5-10-flowered condensed racemes, carried on flower-cluster-stalk 1-2 cm long. Flower-stalks are 2-5 mm long, and in addition collateral with the flower-cluster-stalk a solitary about 1 cm long stalked flower. Male flowers are hairless except petals; bracts absent or linear, 1-2 mm long, fugacious; receptacle-tube 3-4 by 2.5-3 mm; sepals about 0.5 mm long; petals long-triangular, 1.5-2 by 1-1.5 mm, hairy at both sides; filaments erect, 2-2.5 mm long. Female flowers are solitary, hairless except petals; flower-stalks 2-2.5 mm long; receptacle-tube, about 4 by 4 mm; sepals as in male; petals larger than in male, ovate-elliptic, 3.5-4 by 2.5 mm, with rounded tip, minutely pale hairy; style about 4 mm long, hairless; stigma consisting of 3 prominent deeply dissected lobes. Fruit is ovoid, 1.5-2 by 1-1.5 cm, base rounded, at tip tapering into a narrow beak 6-8 mm long, hairless; red and pulpy when ripe; fruiting flower-stalk 2-4 mm long. Creeping cucumber is found in South India and probably NE India. Flowering: May-August.
Medicinal uses: Creeping Cucumber has traditionally been used in the management of diseases pertaining to gastrointestinal, respiratory and vascular system.

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The flower labeled Creeping Cucumber is ...