C. maderaspatanus belongs to the family of Cucurbitaceae. It is found in India and Sri Lanka, mainly in Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and commonly seen in plain lands and in deciduous forests.
It is a soft spiny, hairy, climbing herb. Stem succulent and green, covered with thin, white hairs making the plant look prickly and rough. Leaves heart-shaped, 3-9 cm long. Flowers small, yellow about 1-3 mm long, grows from leaf axils placed right above the leaf. Fruits, berry scarlet, globose, green when young and turn red when ripe. Seeds grey or light black, compressed, wrinkled. It is globally distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics.