Cucumber, vellari in Tamil and kheera in Hindi, was domesticated in India, probably in the Himalayan foothills, about three thousand years ago. Its wild relative still grows there. Today it is eaten raw across the country in salads, raita and kosambari, and pickled small as gherkins. Some cucumbers taste bitter at the ends because of cucurbitacins.
- Botanical name
- Cucumis sativus L.
- Family
- Cucurbitaceae
- Tamil
- Vellari
- Hindi
- Kheera
- Sanskrit
- Trapuṣa
- Parts used
- Fruit
- Habit
- Cucumber, a trailing vine domesticated in India
- Last updated
- 2026-10-27
How to recognise Vellari
It is a trailing or climbing annual vine with rough, hairy stems and unbranched tendrils.
The leaves are triangular to heart-shaped with three to five pointed lobes.
Yellow flowers grow in the leaf axils, male in clusters and female singly, with a tiny cucumber behind each female flower.
The fruit is cylindrical, green, smooth or bumpy, with watery flesh and many flat seeds.
Snake melon or kakdi, often called a cucumber, is actually a form of Cucumis melo.
Traditional use of Vellari
Kitchen
Cucumber goes into raita, kachumber salad and Karnataka kosambari with soaked moong dal.
Indian food practice
Kitchen
Sliced cucumber with salt and chilli is sold by street vendors in summer.
Indian street food practice
Farming
Small gherkin cucumbers are grown in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu largely for pickling and export.
South Indian farm practice
Modern notes on Vellari
Cucumber is about ninety-five per cent water and low in calories, with some vitamin K.
Bitterness comes from cucurbitacins, which modern varieties are bred to lack.
India is a leading exporter of pickled gherkins.
Vellari safety
Wash cucumbers well before eating raw. Throw away any cucumber that is strongly bitter, since cucurbitacins can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
Ecology and sourcing
Its wild form, var. hardwickii, grows in the Himalayan foothills.
Bees pollinate most field varieties.
It needs warmth and steady water.
Related plants
Also in Cucurbitaceae
Questions about Vellari
Where was cucumber domesticated?
In India.
Why are some cucumbers bitter?
They contain cucurbitacins.
Is kakdi a cucumber?
It is a melon, Cucumis melo, eaten like cucumber.
What are gherkins?
Small cucumbers grown for pickling.
Should I peel cucumber?
Not necessarily; wash it well.
Sources
- Cucumis sativus L. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q23425 (Cucumis sativus)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.