Cushaw, Japanese pie pumpkin
Cucurbita argyrosperma

Family: Cucurbitaceae

What it is like

A pumpkin family plant. It is a climbing vine. It can be hairy. The stems are slightly angular. It grows 3-5 m long. The tendrils are branched. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaves are heart shaped to triangular. They can be 10-30 cm long by 15-40 cm wide. They have white spots. Flowers are separately male and female. The fruit are normally pear shaped or crook-neck shaped. They can weigh 8 kg.

There are 25-27 Cucurbita species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In the tropics it suits places between sea level and 1500 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Central America, China, Costa, Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, South America, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten boiled, baked or fried. They are made into pies and bread. The seeds are eaten raw or roasted or ground and made into sauces. They are also used to make a drink. The flowers can be eaten. Caution: The fruit are bitter and need processing by boiling in several changes of water to remove the bitter cucurbitacins before eating.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, seeds - oil, vegetable, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ayote, Calabaza, Calabaza alargada, Calabaza pinta, Chigua, Pipian, Pipitoria, Saquil

Synonyms

Cucurbita mixta Pangalo;