《中国植物志》|| 葫芦科 CUCURBITACEAE ||冬瓜属 Benincasa Savi ||冬瓜 Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.

1. 冬瓜（本草经）
Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. in DC., Mor. Phan. 3: 513. 1881; Cogn. u. Harms in Engl., Pflanzenr. 88 (IV. 275. 2): 164. 1924; Chahr., Ind. Journ. Agric. Sc. 16: (1): 41. 1946; et. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. 17 (1): 84. 1959; 中国高等植物图鉴 4: 363, 图6144. 1975; Keraudren in Aubreville et Leroy, Fl. Cambodge Laos Vietnam 15: 45. 1975. ——Cucurbita hispda Thunb., Fl. Jap. 322. 1784.——Benincasa cerifera Save, Bibl. Ital. 9: 158. 1928.
一年生蔓生或架生草本；茎被黄褐色硬毛及长柔毛，有棱沟。叶柄粗壮，长5-20厘米，被黄褐色的硬毛和长柔毛；叶片肾状近圆形，宽15-30厘米，5-7浅裂或有时中裂，裂片宽三角形或卵形，先端急尖，边缘有小齿，基部深心形，弯缺张开，近圆形，深、宽均为2.5-3.5厘米，表面深绿色，稍粗糙，有疏柔毛，老后渐脱落，变近无毛；背面粗糙，灰白色，有粗硬毛，叶脉在叶背面稍隆起，密被毛。卷须2-3歧，被粗硬毛和长柔毛。雌雄同株；花单生。雄花梗长5-15厘米，密被黄褐色短刚毛和长柔毛，常在花梗的基部具一苞片，苞片卵形或宽长圆形，长6-10毫米，先端急尖，有短柔毛；花萼筒宽钟形，宽12-15毫米，密生刚毛状长柔毛，裂片披针形，长8-12毫米，有锯齿，反折；花冠黄色，辐状，裂片宽倒卵形，长3-6厘米，宽2.5-3.5厘米，两面有稀疏的柔毛，先端钝圆，具5脉；雄蕊3，离生，花丝长2-3毫米，基部膨大，被毛，花药长5毫米，宽7-10毫米，药室3回折曲，雌花梗长不及5厘米，密生黄褐色硬毛和长柔毛；子房卵形或圆筒形，密生黄褐色茸毛状硬毛，长2-4厘米；花柱长2-3毫米，柱头3，长12-15毫米，2裂。果实长圆柱状或近球状，大型，有硬毛和白霜，长25-60厘米，径10-25厘米。种子卵形，白色或淡黄色，压扁，有边缘，长10-11毫米，宽5-7毫米，厚2毫米。
我国各地有栽培。云南南部（西双版纳）有野生者，果远较小。主要分布于亚洲其他热带、亚热带地区，澳大利亚东部及马达加斯加也有。
本种果实除作蔬菜外，也可浸渍为各种糖果；果皮和种子药用，有消炎、利尿、消肿的功效。

《Flora of China》|| Cucurbitaceae || Benincasa ||冬瓜 Benincasa hispida

1. Benincasa hispida (Thunberg) Cogniaux in A. Candolle & C. Candolle, Monogr. Phan. 3: 513. 1881.

冬瓜 dong gua

Cucurbita hispida Thunberg, Nova Acta Regiae Soc. Sci. Upsal. 4: 38. 1783; Benincasa cerifera Savi; B. hispida var. chieh-qua F. C. How; B. pruriens (Solander ex Seemann) W. J. de Wilde & Duyfjes; B. pruriens f. hispida (Thunberg) W. J. de Wilde & Duyfjes; C. pruriens Solander ex Seemann; Lagenaria leucantha Rusby var. hispida (Thunberg) Nakai; L. siceraria (Molina) Standley var. hispida (Thunberg) H. Hara; L. vulgaris Seringe var. hispida (Thunberg) Nakai.

Plants creeping or scandent. Stem and branches yellow-brown hispid and villous, sulcate-angular. Petiole robust, 5-20 cm, yellow-brown hispid and villous; leaf blade reniform-orbicular, 15-30 cm wide, 5-7-lobed; lobes broadly triangular or ovate, both surfaces scabrous, abaxially densely pubescent, adaxially puberulent, base deeply cordate, sinus almost rounded, margin dentate, apex acute. Male flowers: pedicel 5-15 cm, densely hispid and villous; bract ovate or broadly oblong, 6-10 mm, apex acute; calyx tube 12-15 mm in diam., densely hispid-villous; segments 8-12 mm; corolla yellow; segments 3-6 × 2.5-3.5 cm, both surfaces pubescent; filaments 2-3 mm, base expanded; anthers ca. 5 mm. Female flowers: pedicel less than 5 cm, densely yellow-brown hispid and villous; ovary ovoid or cylindric, 2-4 cm, densely hispid; style 2-3 mm; stigmas 12-15 mm. Fruit 50-60 × 10-25 cm. Seeds white or pale yellow, 10-11 × 5-7 mm, ca. 2 mm thick, marginate. Fl. Jun-Sep, fr. Jul-Nov.

Commonly cultivated in China [native origin uncertain; cultivated throughout the tropics, especially in Asia].

The fruit is eaten as a vegetable; the seeds are used medicinally.