Bottle gourd, African calabash
Lagenaria siceraria

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A pumpkin family plant. It is an annual vine with large leaves. It can grow 3-9 m long and spread 3-6 m wide. The thick stems have furrows along them. It can climb over logs by attaching the tendrils which grow out of the stem near the leaf. The leaves are large and have soft hairs especially underneath. Flowers of both sexes are borne in the same plant. The plant produces male flowers first and these are on long stalks. Next it produces female flowers on short stalks. Flowers are large and white. They can be 10 cm across. They are mainly pollinated by insects. Fruit vary in shape. The fruit can be 8-90 cm long. They have brown seeds in a whitish green pulp. There are several varieties.

There are 6 Lagenaria species. They are tropical vines.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows from sea level up to 2700 m altitude in the tropics. It grows best in a warm humid climate. It is sensitive to frost. It prefers full sunlight. In Nepal it grows to about 2200 m altitude. It grows best with a night temperature of 17-23°C and day temperatures of 28-36°C. It can grow in arid places. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Alabania, Andaman Is., Angola, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Congo R, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, FSM, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marianas, Marquesas, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Turkmenstan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The young fruit are boiled as a vegetable. The skin and seeds are removed. They can also be steamed, fried or pickled. Young tips and leaves are edible. They are often cooked with milk or coconut milk to improve the flavour. They are also mixed with other edible leaves. (Old fruit are used as containers, and seeds are not normally edible.) The seeds are sometimes eaten. They yield an edible oil.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. In Papua New Guinea, it occurs occasionally in many areas for containers. As a vegetable it is only important in some areas eg Mendi. It is a common and popular vegetable in Bangladesh. The seeds are eaten as a famine food.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves, fruit, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

To achieve fast and uniform emergence, seed should be soaked overnight. Seeds are best sown in raised beds. Seedlings emerge in 5-7 days. Seedlings can be transplanted is required. Because plants cross pollinate, plant and fruit types vary. Removing the young fruit to use as a vegetable will prolong the life of the plant. Large fruit can be obtained by removing some of the small fruit. A spacing of 1- 2 m is suitable. It prefers a trellis to climb. Because it is shallow rooted weeding needs to be done carefully.

It is fast growing and flowers 2 months after seeding.

Its other names

Local names

Agusi, Alabu, Amabhanga, Arivolahy, Bagwa, Bak, aru'u, Bau, Bhopala, Bogalau, Bonglang, Bu, Bu-thabeik, Cabaca, Calabash gourd, Calabaza, Cheho, Core, Crockneck gourd, Di, Didi, Digo, Diya labu, Doodhi, Dudhi, Dudhiva, Dudhya, Egusi, Ekiryo, Eparra, Fagufagu samoa, Fahandu, File, Footi, Ghia, Ghiba, Ghiya, Guicharo, Guiro, Halagumbala, Holim, Hu lu gua, Ikhomane, Inshubaba, Iselwa, Kaddu, Kaka, Kakaigba, Kalabas, Ka tuk, Kalubay, Khil, Khongdrum, Kikuu, Kiwa, Klook, Kwa-kwa, Labu air, Labu botel, Lakeru lilin, Lami-core, Lau, Laua, Lauka, Lauki, Laushak, Leraja, Limb, Louki, maPudzi, Maraga, Marakka, Marimbo, Mbika nkalu, Milau, Mingi, Mirandjo-lo, Moraka, Mukumbu, Muphapha, Muru, Mutaarmu, Naam tao, Namtao, Ntshubaba, Omparsa, Opo, Opu, Orde, Pe hipap, Pucuo, Sego, Senem, Shorakkai, Shubaba, Sorekayi, Sorrakaya, Suku, Suraikai, Surakkai, Surupha, Tambungaw, Tearau, Teneyu, Trumpet Gourd, Tshukumbu, Tumada, Tumri, Um, Undugue, Ungau, Ungu, Upo, Uum, Vago, Weezhd kadee, White-flower gourd, Yomb, Yungu, Yuugao

Synonyms

Cucumis bicirrha J. R. Forst. ex Guill.; Cucumis lagenaria (L.) Dumort.; Cucumis mairei H. Lev.; Cucurbita idolatrica Willd.; Cucurbita lagenaria L.; Cucurbita leucantha Duch.; Cucurbita pyriformis M. Roem.; Cucurbita siceraria Molina; Cucurbita vittata Blume; Adenopus abyssinicus Hook. f. var. somaliensis Chiov.; Lagenaria bicornuta Chakrav.; Lagenaria idolatrica (Willd.) Ser. ex Cogn.; Lagenaria leucantha (Duch.) Rusby; Lagenaria vulgaris Seringe;