The Buffalo Gourd is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family (the gourds,
squashes and melons), and is a vigorous perennial that can survive for 40 years or
more. It grows wild in Mexico and in the southwest of North America.
The plant can produce either very high or very low yields, without apparent
reason—very little research work has so far been done on this potentially useful food
crop. Further details online at: http://medplant.nmsu.edu
PLANTING
Propagation: in three ways: sexually, by seed; vegetatively from nodal roots, or
vegetatively by fixing the long stems (vines) to the soil and watering them, rapidly
forming new roots and plants. Seed takes about 2 weeks to germinate.
Soil: should be dry and well drained. Buffalo Gourds grow well in sandy and
infertile soils, and can be useful as a soil binder to reduce erosion by wind and
water.
GROWTH CONDITIONS
Growth period: seed can be harvested annually for up to 40 years.
Temperature: frost sensitive. The plants need long periods of hot, dry weather.
Rainfall: extremely drought resistant; once the plants are established they can
survive with virtually no rain.
Pests: resistant to most pests, including cucumber beetles and squash bugs.
YIELD
Each fruit contains about 12 g of seed; on the basis of 60 fruits per plant, one hectare
of plants can produce 2.5 tons of seed, containing 30–35% protein and up to 34%
oil.
The root is enormous and can weigh up to 30 kg after just two growing seasons.
Older plants can produce roots weighing up to 150 kg, of which about 70% is water.
UTILISATION
Buffalo Gourd is a dual-purpose crop, being both a root crop and an oilseed crop,
but it also has many other uses:
- food and in industry and cosmetics. Seeds are also effective as a vermifuge
- • • • • •
274 TONY WINCH
The seed can be crushed to obtain the edible polyunsaturated oil, used both as(agent that causes the evacuation of intestinal worms).
The pulp from undried fruit is used as cattle food.
Traditionally, North American Indians used the seeds for food and soapy extracts
of the fruit pulp and vine for washing clothes and cleaning animal hides.
The Navajo used the dried gourds as ritualistic rattles.
The roots can be used as laundry soap and shampoo. The roots can also be dried
and used as firewood, in Afghanistan for example.The plant is used as an ornamental for its colourful fruits.The crushed leaves are used as an insecticide.