Sikkim Siraitia (Siraitia sikkimensis)

Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey / License

Siraitia sikkimensis: The Himalayan Wild Gourd Vine

Inhabiting the high-altitude forests of the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, Siraitia sikkimensis grows as a vigorous climbing perennial. This plant was originally described by botanist Tapas Chakrabarty before being reassigned to its current genus.

It is primarily found in the Darjeeling and Sikkim regions of India, as well as the Yunnan province of China. Due to its wild, forest-dwelling habitat, it is not subject to commercial cultivation.

Taxonomy

∟ царство Plantae
∟ division Tracheophytes (Vascular Plants)
∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
∟ Angiosperms
∟ mesangiosperms (Core angiosperms)
∟ eudicots
∟ Superrosids
∟ rosids
∟ order Cucurbitales
∟ family Cucurbitaceae
∟ subfamily Cucurbitoideae
∟ genus Siraitia (Monk Fruit Vine)
∟ species Siraitia sikkimensis (Sikkim Siraitia)

Morphology

The vegetative structure of this climber consists of grooved, slender stems that are sparsely pubescent when young. It climbs using two-branched, or bifid tendrils. The leaves feature petioles measuring 3 to 7 centimeters and paper-like, ovate-cordate blades that are 8 to 15 centimeters long.

Each leaf blade is characterized by a deeply cordate base, denticulate margins, and a scabrid-pubescent surface with an acuminate apex. The yellow flowers are dioecious, with male flowers clustered in racemes and female flowers occurring singly. The fruit is a globose or ovoid pepo that starts pubescent and turns smooth as it matures.

Flowering season

Summer, typically from June to August

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Interesting facts

Named after the Indian state of Sikkim, this plant thrives at high elevations in the Himalayas, surviving much cooler temperatures than its tropical relatives.

It was historically classified under different genera by various botanists before phylogenetic studies confirmed its placement in Siraitia in 1993.