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Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrader

Synonyms

Citrullus dimidiens, Citrullus nubica, Citrullus pseudocolocynthis, Colocynthis officinalis, Colocynthis officinarum, Colocynthis vulgaris, Cucumis bipinnatifidus, Cucumis colocynthis, Cucumis pseudocolocynthis, Cucurbita colocyntha

Common names

Bitter gourd, desert squash, Hadaj, handal, Handhal, murrah, shary

Extract from Wikipedia article

Citrullus colocynthis, commonly known as the colocynth, bitter apple, bitter cucumber, desert gourd, egusi, or vine of Sodom (Sanskrit: Gavakshi गवाक्षी, Indarvaruni इंद्रवारूणी), Tamil: பேய்க்கொம்மட்டி is a desert viny plant native to the Mediterranean Basin and Asia, especially Turkey (especially in regions such as İzmir), Nubia and Trieste. It resembles a common watermelon vine but bears small, hard fruits with a bitter pulp. It originally bore the scientific name Colocynthis citrullus, but is now classified as Citrullus colocynthis.

Field of desert watermellons Citrullus colocynthis (Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) near a road to Sawda Natheel in southern Qatar, February 11, 2014
LinkField of desert watermellons Citrullus colocynthis (Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) near a road to Sawda Natheel in southern Qatar, February 11, 2014
Location on mapsسودا ناثيل, أم حوطة, الريان, قطر
Desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) near a road to Sawda Natheel in southern Qatar, February 11, 2014
LinkDesert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) near a road to Sawda Natheel in southern Qatar, February 11, 2014
Location on mapsسودا ناثيل, أم حوطة, الريان, قطر
Flower of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) near a road to Sawda Natheel in southern Qatar, February 11, 2014
LinkFlower of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) near a road to Sawda Natheel in southern Qatar, February 11, 2014
Location on mapsسودا ناثيل, أم حوطة, الريان, قطر
Desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples, Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) near a road to Sawda Natheel in southern Qatar, February 11, 2014
LinkDesert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples, Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) near a road to Sawda Natheel in southern Qatar, February 11, 2014
Location on mapsسودا ناثيل, أم حوطة, الريان, قطر
Rotten last year bitter gourd (Citrullus colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) on a roadside of Abu Samra Road in southern Qatar, February 11, 2014
LinkRotten last year bitter gourd (Citrullus colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) on a roadside of Abu Samra Road in southern Qatar, February 11, 2014
Location on mapsطريق سلوى، Qatar
Field of rotten desert gourd (Citrullus colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) on a roadside of Abu Samra Road in southern Qatar, February 11, 2014
LinkField of rotten desert gourd (Citrullus colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) on a roadside of Abu Samra Road in southern Qatar, February 11, 2014
Location on mapsطريق سلوى، Qatar
Leaves of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples, Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) on roadside of Salwa Road near Karaana, south-west from Doha. Qatar, April 23, 2014
LinkLeaves of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples, Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) on roadside of Salwa Road near Karaana, south-west from Doha. Qatar, April 23, 2014
Location on mapsSalwa Road, Al-Kiranah, Qatar
Shoot of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples, Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) on roadside of Salwa Road near Karaana, south-west from Doha. Qatar, April 23, 2014
LinkShoot of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples, Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) on roadside of Salwa Road near Karaana, south-west from Doha. Qatar, April 23, 2014
Location on mapsSalwa Road, Al-Kiranah, Qatar
Fruit of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples, Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) near Karaana (Karana, Al Kiranah), south-west from Doha. Qatar, April 23, 2014
LinkFruit of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples, Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) near Karaana (Karana, Al Kiranah), south-west from Doha. Qatar, April 23, 2014
Location on mapsSalwa Rd, Qatar
Blooming desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (local names handal, shary, Handhal) at entrance of Ras Abrouq Peninsula near Zekreet. Qatar, November 14, 2014
LinkBlooming desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (local names handal, shary, Handhal) at entrance of Ras Abrouq Peninsula near Zekreet. Qatar, November 14, 2014
Location on mapsDukhan Highway, Qatar
Flower of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (local names handal, shary, Handhal) at entrance of Ras Abrouq Peninsula near Zekreet. Qatar, November 14, 2014
LinkFlower of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (local names handal, shary, Handhal) at entrance of Ras Abrouq Peninsula near Zekreet. Qatar, November 14, 2014
Location on mapsDukhan Highway, Qatar
Flower of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis taken from roadside of Salwa Road. Southern Qatar, November 29, 2014
LinkFlower of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis taken from roadside of Salwa Road. Southern Qatar, November 29, 2014
Location on mapsSalwa Road, Qatar
Desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (Cucumis colocynthis) taken from area of Al Khor. Qatar, December 5, 2014
LinkDesert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (Cucumis colocynthis) taken from area of Al Khor. Qatar, December 5, 2014
Location on mapsAl Khor Coastal Rd, Qatar
Fruit of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples) taken from a road to Al Jumayliyah in north-western Qatar, December 6, 2014
LinkFruit of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples) taken from a road to Al Jumayliyah in north-western Qatar, December 6, 2014
Dissected fruits of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples) taken from a road to Al Jumayliyah in north-western Qatar, December 6, 2014
LinkDissected fruits of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples) taken from a road to Al Jumayliyah in north-western Qatar, December 6, 2014
Seeds of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples) taken from a road to Al Jumayliyah in north-western Qatar, December 6, 2014
LinkSeeds of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apples) taken from a road to Al Jumayliyah in north-western Qatar, December 6, 2014
Desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis at the entrance of Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, December 12, 2014
LinkDesert gourd Citrullus colocynthis at the entrance of Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, December 12, 2014
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Al Nu`man, Qatar
Watermelon like fruits of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis at the entrance of Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, December 12, 2014
LinkWatermelon like fruits of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis at the entrance of Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, December 12, 2014
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Al Nu`man, Qatar
Desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis with fruits at the entrance of Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, December 12, 2014
LinkDesert gourd Citrullus colocynthis with fruits at the entrance of Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, December 12, 2014
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Al Nu`man, Qatar
Fruits of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis at the entrance of Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, December 12, 2014
LinkFruits of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis at the entrance of Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, December 12, 2014
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Al Nu`man, Qatar
Desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis in sandy depression at the entrance of Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, December 12, 2014
LinkDesert gourd Citrullus colocynthis in sandy depression at the entrance of Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, December 12, 2014
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Al Nu`man, Qatar
Field of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis in a depression at the entrance of Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, December 12, 2014
LinkField of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis in a depression at the entrance of Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, December 12, 2014
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Al Nu`man, Qatar
Large vine of desert gourd (Citrullus colocynthis) growing over a bush of Ziziphus nummularia in a silty depression near Al Nuaman (Numan) in north-western Qatar, December 12, 2014
LinkLarge vine of desert gourd (Citrullus colocynthis) growing over a bush of Ziziphus nummularia in a silty depression near Al Nuaman (Numan) in north-western Qatar, December 12, 2014
Location on mapsAsh Shamal, Qatar
Field of desert gourd (Citrullus colocynthis) near Al Nuaman (Numan) in north-western Qatar, December 12, 2014
LinkField of desert gourd (Citrullus colocynthis) near Al Nuaman (Numan) in north-western Qatar, December 12, 2014
Location on mapsAsh Shamal, Qatar
Large plant of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis on a Ziziphus bush in a silty depression in Al Numan (Naim tribe, Nuaman, Nuaimiya). Northern Qatar, February 6, 2015
LinkLarge plant of desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis on a Ziziphus bush in a silty depression in Al Numan (Naim tribe, Nuaman, Nuaimiya). Northern Qatar, February 6, 2015
Location on mapsAsh Shamal, Qatar
Desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis in a silty depression in Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, March 20, 2015
LinkDesert gourd Citrullus colocynthis in a silty depression in Al Nuaman (Al Numan) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, March 20, 2015
Location on mapsAsh Shamal, Qatar
Desert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) in a silty depression in Al Nuaman (Naim tribe, Nuaimiya) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, March 28, 2015
LinkDesert gourd Citrullus colocynthis (Cucumis colocynthis, local names handal, shary, Handhal) in a silty depression in Al Nuaman (Naim tribe, Nuaimiya) near Zubara. Northern Qatar, March 28, 2015
Location on mapsAsh Shamal, Qatar
Seedling of bitter gourd (Citrullus colocynthis) on roadside of a road to Umm Hota Village, near Sawda Natheel. Southern Qatar, February 5, 2016
LinkSeedling of bitter gourd (Citrullus colocynthis) on roadside of a road to Umm Hota Village, near Sawda Natheel. Southern Qatar, February 5, 2016
Location on mapsUnnamed Road, Qatar

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Acknowledgements

QNHG (Qatar Natural History Group) and associated people, for a possibility to participate in their field excursions and to learn about local nature.