Cyclanthera pedata
(L.) Schrad.
Calabash gourd
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What to Eat
Edible parts: Leaves, Fruit, Flowers, Vegetable
Young, immature fruits can be eaten raw or cooked and have a cucumber-like flavour, though without the crispness. Older fruits are cooked and can be stuffed in the same way as marrows — the large seed cavity makes them well suited to this, which may have inspired the local Spanish name pepino de rellenar ('stuffing cucumber'). Mature fruits are also cooked with oil and vinegar or added to soups and stews. The fruit measures roughly 6–15cm long and 6cm wide. Leaves and tender young shoots can be cooked and used as greens.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It occurs in the Andes. It can be grown in warm temperate places. In the tropics it grows between 2,000-3,000 m above sea level. They grow in Nepal to about 2500 m altitude. In Argentina it grows between 500-2,800 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
Africa, Andes*, Argentina, Asia, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, East Africa, Ecuador, Guatemala, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, North America, Northeastern India, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Reunion, SE Asia, Sikkim, South America*, Tibet, Venezuela,
How to Identify
A creeping pumpkin family plant. It can easily grow 2 m long. It climbs using tendrils. These can be divided twice or many times. The leaves are lobed and have teeth along the edge. The flowers occur in the axils of leaves. The flowers are small and cream coloured. The fruit are like small cucumbers. They can have stout prickles. They are edible. There are 10 seeds in each fruit.
Nutrition Score: 12/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 94 | — | — | 0.6 | — | 14 | 0.8 | — |
How to Grow
Plants are grown from seed. A spacing of 90 cm is suitable. Plants should be staked.
Propagation: Sow seed in mid-spring in a rich compost in a warm greenhouse or warm sheltered spot. Place 2 or 3 seeds per pot and thin to the strongest seedling. Plant out after the last expected frost with protection such as a cloche until plants are growing well. A spacing of 90cm is appropriate, and plants should be staked.
Medicinal Uses
A tea made from the seeds is used to treat high blood pressure. The dried, powdered seeds are taken in 1-gram doses as a remedy for intestinal parasites, typically followed by a laxative to ensure the parasites are expelled. The seeds and fruits are recommended for gastrointestinal disorders. The fruits are diuretic and, when boiled in milk and gargled, serve as a treatment for tonsillitis. Fruit juice is recommended for high blood cholesterol, hypertension, tonsillitis, arteriosclerosis, circulatory problems, and diabetes. The fruits and leaves can be boiled in olive oil and applied externally as a topical anti-inflammatory and analgesic. The leaves are considered hypoglycaemic and prepared as a decoction for treating diabetes. Research in Peru has shown the plant can lower blood cholesterol in humans, with one trial showing an 18.3% reduction over 12 months and other trials showing even larger reductions.
Other Uses
The roots are used to clean the teeth.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Cyclanthera pedata, known as caigua, is a herbaceous vine grown for its edible fruit, which is predominantly used as a vegetable. It is known from cultivation only, and its use goes back many centuries as evidenced by ancient phytomorphic ceramics from Peru depicting the fruits.
Production
It flowers in 40-55 days and fruit can be harvested in 80-90 days. There are normally several harvests of fruit.
Other Information
It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.
Names & Synonyms
Achocha, Achokcha, Achoqcha, Achuccha, Acochca, Barela, Bottle gourd, Caiba, Caigua, Caihua, Caygua, Cayhua, Cayua, Kaikua, Korila, Lady's-slipper, Lamthabi, Meetha karela, Patal, Pepino de rellenar, Prickle cyclanthera, Slipper gourd, Stuffing cucumber
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