Dioecious perennial herb up to 20(–30) m long, trailing or climbing with simple tendrils, with tuberous rootstock; stem green and longitudinally ribbed when young, becoming white-spotted when older and eventually woody. Leaves alternate, simple; stipules absent; petiole 1–5 cm long; blade broadly ovate to pentagonal or orbicular in outline, 3–12 cm × 3–15 cm, shallowly to deeply palmately 3–5-lobed, cordate at base, margin entire or sinuate and often with distinct reddish glandular teeth, glabrous, punctate. Flowers axillary, unisexual, 5-merous, with tubular receptacle 3–7 mm long, sepals linear, up to 6 mm long, corolla campanulate, with lobes up to 2 cm × 1.5 cm, yellow-orange; male flowers solitary or paired, rarely 3–4 in a short raceme, pedicel 1–7 cm long, stamens 3, united into a column; female flowers solitary, pedicel up to 2.5 cm long, ovary inferior, cylindrical, up to 1.5 cm long, 1-celled, style 3 mm long, stigma 3-lobed. Fruit an ellipsoid or rarely spherical berry 3–7 cm × 1–3.5 cm, fleshy, green with white stripes when young, turning red at maturity, many-seeded. Seeds asymmetrically pear-shaped in outline, compressed, c. 6 mm × 3 mm, margin rather thick and grooved.

Hypoglycemic (roots and leaves); laxative (plant); ophthalmic (stem)

Plants For A Future
PROTAbase: Coccinia grandis

The fruits, stems and leaves have medicinal uses such as to reduce high blood pressure and to treat abscesses. Roots are believed to heal illnesses associated with endocrine system disorders such as diabetes mellitus, and are used to treat intestinal troubles. Bronchial inflammation, respiratory mucosae and skin disorders are also said to be healed by this plant. The plant is used internally in the treatment of gonorrhoea