Some Cucurbit species can provide anthelmintics (aka vermifuges), which cause
the evacuation of parasitic intestinal worms, in the form of a substance called
cucurbitine, contained in seeds of some cucurbits, C. maxima in particular.
There are about 25 species in the genus Cucurbita; some are described below:
Summer Squash—also known as Summer Crookneck, Autumn Pumpkin,
Vegetable Marrow or Gourd - the immature fruits of C. pepo are eaten, used as a
vegetable.
Winter Squash—mature fruits of C. pepo, C. maxima, C. mixta and C. moschata.
Used as a vegetable, for baking, in pies, for jam and for animal food. Can be stored
for six months or more. Fine-grained flesh, and mild flavour, suitable for baking.
Pumpkin—normally have soft rinds and hard stalks, while marrows have hard rinds
forage. The coarse flesh and strong flavour mean that it is not normally eaten as a
vegetable.
English Marrow—fruits of C. pepo, eaten both immature (Courgettes/Zucchini) or
mature (for jam, and for storage and cooking in winter).
Malabar or Fig-leaf GourdC. ficifolia is a perennial species in frost free areas; it
has some local importance in Mexico and central and southern America. The plants
tolerate cool climates, and are cultivated at high altitudes in the tropics.
Some other pumpkin-like species within the Cucurbitaceae family include:
Bottle GourdLagenaria siceraria (Syn. L. vulgaris)—the Calabash or White-
flowered Gourd. Normally not eaten,but used for containers, musical instruments,
fishing-net floats, rafts and spoons.
LoofahLuffa spp.—the Luffa, Vegetable Sponge, Sponge Gourd or Dishcloth
Gourd; the immature fruits are sometimes eaten (L.acutangula ‘Chinese Okra’), in
India and the East, but Loofahs are mainly used as highly efficient cleaning pads for
human skin, pots and pans, etc and as filters in industry (L. aegyptiaca).
Bitter GourdMomordica charantia—the Bitter Cucumber, Balsam Apple/Pear;
Carilla Gourd etc is eaten as a vegetable and is also used in traditional medicine (p 294).
Chayote (Choyote)Sechium edule—the Christophine, Choko or Shu-shu; eaten by
the Aztecs, and nowadays grown throughout the tropics and sub-tropics. A vigorous,
perennial climbing plant with pear-shaped fruit 10–20 cm long, containing one large
flat seed 3–5 cm long. The large, tuberous roots (20% carbohydrate) and the fruits
are eaten, and sometimes also the young leaves & shoots.
Snake Gourd orSerpent GourdTrichosanthes cucumerina (Syn. T. anguina). The
immature fruit is eaten, which is more nutritious than most Cucurbits. The ripe fruit
becomes red and is fibrous and bitter. Cucumber-like pods, up to 2 m long—a
weight is often tied to the end to encourage them to grow straighter.
The following description applies to the four most commonly grown species of
Cucurbitaceae, Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. mixta and C. moschata, unless
otherwise stated. These are widely found throughout Europe, the USA and the drier
parts of the tropics, especially in Africa.
Cushaw (“Ayote” in German and Spanish) C. argyrosperma (syn C. mixta)—mature
fruits with striped green and grey warty rinds, used for baking and for animal forage.
Buffalo GourdCucurbita foetidissima—described in 2G, “Under exploited Crops”.
GROWING FOOD – THE FOOD PRODUCTION HANDBOOK 229
C. maxima, C. mixta and C. moschata, and are used in pies and soups and as animal
and soft stalks. Like Winter Squash, Pumpkins are the mature fruits of C. pepo,