Cucurbita ficifolia

Fig leaf gourd ( Cucurbita ficifolia )

The fig leaf gourd ( Cucurbita ficifolia ) is a plant of the family Cucurbitaceae ( Cucurbitaceae ). He is one of the five cultivated species of pumpkin, but the one with the least importance.

Features

The fig leaf gourd is a prostrate or climbing annual plant. You take some time and may give the impression of a short-lived perennial plant. It has no back-up roots. The whole plant is rough to soft-hairy, occupied in the vegetative parts with sharp spines. They usually has five rung with slightly squared stem axis. The leaves have stems 5-25 inches in length. The leaf blade is ei - heart-shaped to almost round. The surface can wear white spots. The leaf blade has three to five rounded or slightly pointed lobes, the middle are larger than the lateral ones. The leaf margin is serrated. The vines are three-to four-piece.

The flowers appear singly in the leaf axils. The male flowers are long -stalked, have a bell-shaped calyx 5-10 mm in length and almost the same width. The crown is bell-shaped with a broad base. She is 6 to 12 inches long, yellow to pale orange. The female flowers have a three to five inches long flower stalk. The ovary is ovate to elliptic. The sepals are sometimes green and leaf-like, the crown is slightly larger than male flowers.

The fruit is round to oval - elliptical. There are three color pattern: light or dark green with or without longitudinal white lines or stripes at the top; small areas of white and spotted green; white, cream white or fleshy - white. The hard shell is 3-5 mm thick and differs sharply from the pulp. This tastes slightly sweet, but with no taste. It contains a few vitamins and minerals, modest amounts of carbohydrates and, as shown by the white meat in contrast to many other pumpkins almost no β -carotene. The seeds are oval - elliptic, flat, and measure (15 to 25 ) x ( 7-12 ) mm, are dark brown to black or creamy- white in color and distributed to the flesh. They are rich in oils and proteins. Mature fruits can be stored for several years.

Distribution and ecology

For a long time it was assumed the fig leaf gourd would be based in Asia. One of its common names is also Malabar gourd. However, as the other pumpkin species it comes from America. The area of ​​origin is uncertain, it may lie in the plateau of Mexico, the Andes are discussed. The species is known only in cultivation, possible wild forms are not known. The growing area extends from northern Mexico to Argentina and Chile. In the 16th or 17th century, the type came to India, France and Portugal. From there, the cultivation of the Philippines and other countries also spread to Japan, in Europe.

The species tolerates low temperatures, however, no strict frosts.

System

There is the fig leaf gourd no commercial cultivars. He also can not intersect with other squash species.

Cultivation

The fig leaf gourd is grown in a large geographic area, however, is limited to the amount ranges between about 1000 to almost 3000 m. This distinguishes it from the other species of the genus, which are also grown in significant lower altitudes. It is grown in all mountainous areas of Latin America.

It is usually grown in areas with high rainfall, and seeded the beginning of the rainy season. The harvest takes place between September ( for young fruits and flowers) to December and January (mature fruits). In some areas of Mexico it is grown on wetter soils in the dry season. It is grown together with other traditional crops such as corn, beans or other cucurbits in fields, or in vegetable gardens.

Propagation is by seed only. These are long, 18 to 20 months shelf life.

Use

The use of the various plant parts is quite diverse. Unripe fruits are eaten cooked as a vegetable. The pulp of the ripe fruit is processed into candies and soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. The seeds are also eaten. In the Chiapas region they are processed with honey to " palanquetas " said desserts.

In Mexico, young Stems and flowers are used as a cooked vegetable. The ripe fruits are fed to the cattle.

The fig leaf gourd is used for its resistance to Fusarium as a base for various cucurbits. Particularly widespread it is in the cucumber production in greenhouses. The cucumber plants are also cold tolerant to 3 ° C.

Documents

• R. Lira Saade, S. Montes Hernández: cucurbits. In: J. E. Hernández Bermejo, J. León ( eds.): Neglected crops. 1492 from a different perspective. FAO Plant Production and Protection Series No. 26, Rome 1994, pp. 63-77. ISBN 92-5-103217-3 ( online1 ) ( online2 )