Luo Han Guo, Mormodica Grosvenori, Vine Seeds (Natural Sweetener, Medicinal) Luo Han Guo is a herbaceous perennial vine of the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family. Native to Southern China and Northern Thailand, the plant is cultivated for its fruit, whose extract is nearly 300 times sweeter than sugar. Luo Han Guo has been used in China for centuries as a natural low-calorie sweetener and in traditional Chinese medicine to treat diabetes and obesity. After processed, it can be used as a remedy for colds and congestion of the lung. Luo Han Guo flowers in early spring. Typically all flowers are hand pollinated. The vine attains a length of 9 to 16 feet, climbing over other plants by means of tendrils which twine around anything they touch. The leaves are narrow, heart-shaped, 4 to 7 inches long. The fruit is round, 2 to 3 inches in diameter, smooth, yellow-brownish or green-brownish in color with a hard but thin skin covered by fine hairs. Luo Han Guo is Dioecious (male and female reproductive organs borne on separate plants). Since it cannot be predicted whether a plant is male or female until it flowers, it is suggested to plant in groups of three to help assure that the plants will produce fruit.