Botanical name : Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.  
Family : Cucurbitaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Kusmanda, Sreshtaphala,
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa    : Madhura, Kashaya, Kshara
Guna   : Guru, Rooksha
Virya   : Seeta
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English     : Ash gourd
Hindi        : Pedha, Raksa
Malayalam    : Kumbalam, Naikumbalam
Distribution – Throughout India growing wild in planes, also cultivated.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A large annual or biennial tendril climber. Leaves simple, alternate, large, with numerous hairs; flowers yellow large and unisexual; fruits cylindrical, hairy, and covered with ashy powder throughout. Fruits contain numerous white colored embedded seeds.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, pitta, obesity, hypercholestremia, cough, bronchitis, fever, urinary retention and general weakness.
Useful part    :    Fruits, Seeds.  

Photo: Dr. Eby Abraham MD