Benincasa hispida...local names Ashgourd (bcos of Ash like powder on its outer skin), Petha, Kumbla, winter melon, etc. It is also known as Kushmanda in Sanskrit which means a tiny warm egg from which creation manifests. It is a creeper vine that produces huge edible yellow flowers and grows in most tropical countries of the world. Unique feature of this vegetable is it can be stored for months even after plucking it. Ayurveda values Ashgourd both for its medicinal and nutritive value. It is a cure all for all mankind illness including various mental health issues.. eg diabetes, heart &stomach ailments, arthritis, etc…it sharpens memory and cognative functions of brain. Being cooling in nature, it is healing vegetable and recommended to have as a juice on empty stomach (filtered or along with pulp for maximum benefit) .