Bottle Gourd (Lauki )

Bottle Gourd (Lauki / Doodhi / Ghiya) – Description:

Botanical Name: Lagenaria siceraria
Family: Cucurbitaceae (Cucumber family)

Description:
Bottle gourd is a popular vegetable grown in tropical and subtropical regions. It is a light green, smooth-skinned, bottle-shaped vegetable that can also be round or long and cylindrical. The flesh is white, spongy, and soft with small, edible seeds inside.

Plant:

• The bottle gourd plant is a climbing or trailing vine with broad, heart-shaped leaves and yellow-white flowers.

• It grows best in warm climates and is usually supported by a trellis or fence.

Nutritional Value:
Bottle gourd is low in calories and fat but rich in water (about 92%), vitamin C, vitamin B, fiber, and minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium.

Health Benefits:

• Helps in hydration and cooling the body.

• Aids digestion and relieves constipation.

• Beneficial for heart health and weight loss.

• Often used in juices and soups for detoxification.

Common Names:

• Hindi: Lauki / Ghiya / Doodhi

• English: Bottle Gourd / Calabash

• Tamil: Suraikai

• Telugu: Anapakaya

• Bengali: Lau