The genus Benincasa Savi (CUCURBITACEAE) comprises of only two species1, both are cultivated in India. 1. Benincasa fistulosa (Stocks) H.Schaef. & S.S.Renner Synonyms: Citrullus fistulosus Stocks; C. vulgaris Schrad. ex Eckl. & Zeyh. var. fistulosus (Stocks) J.L.Stewart; Praecitrullus fistulosus (Stocks) Pangalo; Colocynthis citrullus (L.) Kuntze var. fistulosus (Stocks) Chakrav.; Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. fistulosus (J.L.Steward) Babu; C. lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. fistulosus (Stocks) Chakrav. Distribution: Global: Introduced (?) in tropical Africa. In India (cultivated): Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh. Note: Cultivated in India and Pakistan as a vegetable. The origin of Benincasa fistulosa is unclear, and the species is currently only known in cultivation2. 2. Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. Synonyms: Cucurbita hispida Thunb.; Benincasa pruriens (Parkinson) W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes f. hispida (Thunb.) W.J.de Wilde & Duyfjes Distribution: Global: India, Pakistan, Malayasia, Eastern Australia,
Polynesia, China & Japan. Wild origin unclear. In India: Cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of India. References: 1. Schaefer H, Renner SS (2011) Phylogenetic relationships in the order Cucurbitales and a new classification of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). Taxon 60:122–138. 2. Renner SS, Pandey AK (2013) The Cucurbitaceae of India: Accepted names, synonyms, geographic distribution, and information on images and DNA sequences PhytoKeys 20: 53–118. [Full text] Links to other references: |
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