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48 FOOD FOR THE TROPICS 



White Gourd 



{Benincasa cerifera) 



A native of Japan and Java, and cultivated throughout 

 Asia, the Islands, Africa, etc. It is also called White 

 Gourd Melon, or Chinese Wax Gourd, and Gol-Kaddu 

 (Hindu-stani) ; Peh-kwa, etc. (China) ; Kaliyana-pushinik- 

 kay (Tamil) ; Burda-gumudu, etc. (Telegu) ; Kumpalanna, 

 etc. (Malay) ; and Kyauk-pa-yon (Burmah). It is a very 

 large egg-shaped cUmbing gourd, covered with pale greenisl 

 white bloom, and white pulp inside. The young fruit is 

 used in curries as a vegetable ; or as a sweetmeat. It is 

 said to have cooling properties. 



Purslane 



{Portulaca oUraceci). 



A native of India. It is called Parpukire, etc. (Tamil) ; 

 Pappukura, etc. (Telegu) ; Koriechira (Malay) ; Mya-byit 

 (Burmah) ; Kourfakara-or, etc. (Arabic) ; Rijel (Soudan, 

 Africa) ; and Ma-ch-i-hien (China). There are three 

 varieties in cultivation, Green, Golden, and Large-leaved 

 Golden Purslane. 



The leaves contain oxalate of potash, mucilage, etc., and 

 are refrigerant, slightly astringent, diuretic, antiscorbutic, 

 preventing also liver diseases. They are largely eaten as 

 a potherb in the form of spinach, or in curries. 



The young shoots also make an excellent salad. 



