Calabash, Calabash-tree
Crescentia cujete

Family: Bignoniaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It grows to 10 m tall. It is evergreen. The leaves are arranged in spirals and are long and narrow. They are simple and dark green. They are 27 cm long. The bark is deeply cracked and corky. The flowers are round and bell shaped. They grow in long drooping heads. The fruit hangs like balls on long stalks. The fruit are 30 cm long by 18 cm wide. They are green. They have a hard outer rind and white pulp containing seeds.

The mature wooden fruit are used for ornaments and containers.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It does best in warm moist conditions. It cannot stand frost while young. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Cairns Botanical Gardens. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, Burkina Faso, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Central America (country/location of origin), China, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mexico (country/location of origin), New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niger, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Sahel, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, South America, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Thailand, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The young fruit are eaten cooked or pickled. The seeds are eaten, roasted. They are also roasted and mixed with wheat to make a coffee. The seeds yield an oil. The seeds are used to make a syrup. They are ground and mixed with sugar and water and boiled. The leaves are cooked in soups.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or cuttings. It can also be grown by air-layering.

Its other names

Local names

Beltilok, Berenuk, Bon bael, Calabazo, Coite, Gasu, Jicara, Jicaro, Kalebasboom, Khoria, La'amia, Majpahit, Morro, Mria, Nam-dtao-ton, Pohon buah berenuk, Pohon majapahit, Qua dao tien, Sio, Tabu kayu, Taparo, Tecomate, Tilokbel, Totumo, Tsitipa, Xicalli

Synonyms

Crescentia acuminata Kunth; Crescentia angustifolia Willd. ex Seem. [Invalid]; Crescentia arborea Raf.; Crescentia fasciculata Miers; and others