Cucurbita filicifolia chilacayote or Malabar gourd

[Gurcharan Singh]

Cucurbita is a genus with numerous cultivars whose names can be most confusing the commonly used names pumpkin, squash, gourd, summer squash, winter squash could belong to any of the commonly grown species.

Cucurbita filicifolia: Leaves orbicular-ovate to reniform, with shallow obtuses sinuses, corolla lobes large spreading, fruit green with white stripes, flesh white, seeds dark. 

Cucurbita maxima: Leaves shallowly lobed, sinus narrow obtuse;petiole not prickly; calyx linear-lanceolate; fruiting peduncle not grooved, not expanded at tip below fruit; corolla soft spreading or drooping.

Cucurbita mixta: Leaves shallowly lobed, cordate at base, surface with white patches; petiole not prickly; peduncle in fruit angled, corky, enlarged at tip; male flower with long staminal column

Cucurbita moschata: Leaves scarcely lobed, ovate-orbicular with white patches; petiole not prickly; calyx lobes large leafy; peduncle angled expanded at tip; corolla lobes spreading, crinky, acute.

Cucurbita pepo: Leaves ovate-triangular, deeply lobed, sinus broad, petiole prickly; prduncle 5-6 angled, grooved, expanded at tip; corolla erect sharp pointed.

Plus I have found growing wild here the following species with very distinct leaves:

Cucurbita foetidissima: Leaves ovate-triangular, stiff, greyish, greyish; flowers large; fruit 6-8 cm, spherical, striped green and yellow, foetid, not edible.

Could any member find and upload key to these species of Cucurbita

I am uploading fruit of C. filicifolia sold in stores here, known as Chilacayote or Malabar gourd, Fig-leaf gourd. From name Malabar gourd I wonder whether plant is grown in India or not.

 

--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/