Scientific name: Coccinia grandis
Ivy gourd is an aggressive vine that can spread quickly over trees, shrubs, fences and other supports. Being a perennial plant, it can spread vegetatively or by seed. The long tendrils are elastic with coil like springs, that can wrap around the host. The leaves are palmately simple with five lobes. The flowers are large and white, about 4 cm across with five long tubular petals. The creamish coloured stamen is triangular in shape. I took this photograph on 23rd December 2011 from just in front of my home in my native place, which was leaning over a bush!
