Trichosanthes pentaphylla


Trichosanthes pentaphylla, commonly known as red gourd, is a species of plants in the family Cucurbitaceae found only in coastal northeast Queensland, Australia. It is a tendril climber up to long and stem diameter. The leaves are divided with 3–5 leaflets, carried on a petiole up to long. The species is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants; both are white with fringed petals and about diameter. The fruit is bright red, ovoid, and about long by wide. The plant was first described in 1867 by English botanist George Bentham.

Conservation

This species is listed as least concern under the Queensland Government's Nature Conservation Act., it has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.