Jicaro. Mexican calabash
Crescentia alata

Family: Bignoniaceae

What it is like

Smaller fruit than Crescentia cujete (calabash) with slender limbs and a more erect habit

Crescentia alata is a deciduous Tree growing to 8 m (26ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bats. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 8

Where it is found

Common or abundant on essentially dry but at seasons often very wet plains and hillsides, at elevations up to 1,200 metres.

Central America - Costa Rica to Mexico.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Belize, Central America, Costa Rica, Egypt, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, North Africa, North America, Panama*, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

A refreshing drink is prepared using the ground seeds, mixed with other ingredients. The seeds are mixed with raw rice, roasted pumpkin seeds, lemon peel, sugar, water and ice, and made into a non-alcoholic drink called 'horchata'. A bland, relatively stable oil is obtained from the seeds. The fruits are sometimes eaten or made into a drink.

Oil: Oil

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The fruit is pectoral. The pulp is used particularly in the treatment of colds, and for diseases of the kidneys. A decoction of the leaves is employed as an astringent and antihemorrhagic. It is much used in the treatment of haemoptysis and dysentery.

Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.

Other

Rating: 3

The fruit have woody shells which can be used to make cups, containers etc. The shells are smaller and not as good suitable for the production of bowls as the shells obtained from C. Cujete. The shells have a very important use in Guatemala for making drinking cups and various other kinds of containers. A fruit cut in half makes two small cups, one of which is carried by almost every Indian pedestrian, often attached to his waist, as a drinking cup. There is said to be in Guatemala a form of this tree that bears exceptionally small fruits, little larger than a hen's egg - these small fruits are often used to fashion spinning tops for children. A decoction of the leaves is said to promote the growth of hair. The wood is used locally for making wagons and other articles.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

New Crop: Most new crops were important wild plants until recently, although some are the result of hybridization. They have been developed in the last few, decades. What they have in common is that they are currently cultivated by farmers. Examples include baobab, argan, and buffalo gourd.

Staple Crop: Protein-oil: (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

New Crop: Most new crops were important wild plants until recently, although some are the result of hybridization. They have been developed in the last few, decades. What they have in common is that they are currently cultivated by farmers. Examples include baobab, argan, and buffalo gourd.

Staple Crop: Protein-oil: (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Not known

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 9-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Dteen-ped-farang, Gourd tree, Jicara, Jicarillo, Morrito, Morro, Music tree, Pohon maja lonjong, Sacaguacal, Tecomate, Winged calabash, Xicara,

Synonyms

Crescentia ternata Sess? & Moc. Crescentia trifolia Blanco Otophora paradoxa Blume Parmentiera alata (Kunth) Miers Pteromischus alatus (Kunth) Pichon