Coyote gourd, Fingerleaf gourd
Cucurbita digitata
Family: Cucurbitaceae
What it is like
A pumpkin family plant. It is a hairy vine. It can grow 10 m long and form roots at the nodes. The tendrils have 2-5 branches. The leaves have 5 finger like lobes. The flowers are yellow and curling and 5 cm across. The fruit is almost round and dark green. It is 7-10 cm across. It is mottled with white stripes. The seeds are about 1 cm long. They are dull white with thickened raised edges.
There are 25 Cucurbita species.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant. It grows between 300-1,500 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Mexico, North America, USA
How it is used for food
The seeds are edible. They should probably be well cooked. Caution: The fruit pulp is poisonous.
Edible parts
Root, seeds, caution
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Calabacillo, Fingerleaf gourd, Menoncillo