Bitter gourd / Colocynth

Plants Identity

Scientific Name

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.

Arabic name(s)

Hanzal

English name(s)

Bitter gourd / Colocynth

Order

Cucurbitales

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Genus

Citrullus Schrad. ex Eckl. & Zeyh.

Species

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.

Subspecies

Variety

Growth form

Colocynth is a perennial, procumbent herb.

Plant’s Description

Ecology (Habitat)& distribution

Colocynth grows in desert areas especially in the Arabian Peninsula.

Geographic distribution

Plant’s Citations in the Holy Qur’an

The plant is not mentioned in the Holy Qur’an.

Other Citations for the plant in the Holy Qur’an

Other Citations for the plant in the Hadith

Narrated by Abu Musa: The Prophet said, “And the example of a hypocrite who does not recite the Quran is like a colocynth which tastes bitter and has a bad smell.” Sahih Al Bukhari, book of food.

Other Citations for the plant in the Hadith

History of the Plant

Stories about the plant in Holy Qur’an

Stories about the plant in Sunnah

The plant in the Arabic Literature

Etymology

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Functional Uses

Uses

Foods

Products

Fruits

Traditional Uses

Services

Medicinal uses

Constituents (Chemical composition)

Side Effects

Other Uses

Cultivation (Agriculture)

Cultivation History

Cultivars and Varieties

Growth and propagation

Tree management

Pests and diseases

Harvesting & Yield

References