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'''''Cucurbita ficifolia''''' is a species of [[squash (plant)|squash]], grown for its edible [[seed]]s, [[fruit]], and [[greens (vegetable)|greens]].<ref name="pfaf">{{cite web|title=''Cucurbita ficifolia'' - Bouché |url=http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cucurbita+ficifolia |publisher=Plants for a Future|access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref> It has common names including '''Asian pumpkin''', '''black seed squash''', '''chilacayote''', '''cidra''', '''fig-leaf gourd''', '''Malabar gourd'''. Compared to other domesticated species in its genus, investigators have noted that samples of ''C. ficifolia'' from throughout its range are relatively similar to one other in [[Morphology (biology)|morphology]] and genetic composition. Variations do occur in fruit and seed color, some [[isozymes]], and [[Photoperiodism | photoperiod sensitivity]].<ref name="biology-utilization">{{Cite book |last=Bates |first=David M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ku2YDwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&hl=en |title=Biology and Utilization of the Cucurbitaceae |last2=Robinson |first2=Richard W. |date=2019-05-15 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-1-5017-4544-7 |language=en}}</ref>
'''''Cucurbita ficifolia''''' is a species of [[squash (plant)|squash]], grown for its edible [[seed]]s, [[fruit]], and [[greens (vegetable)|greens]].<ref name="pfaf">{{cite web|title=''Cucurbita ficifolia'' - Bouché |url=http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cucurbita+ficifolia |publisher=Plants for a Future|access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref> It has common names including '''Asian pumpkin''', '''black seed squash''', '''chilacayote''', '''cidra''', '''fig-leaf gourd''', and '''Malabar gourd'''. Compared to other domesticated species in its genus, investigators have noted that samples of ''C. ficifolia'' from throughout its range are relatively similar to one other in [[Morphology (biology)|morphology]] and genetic composition. Variations do occur in fruit and seed color, some [[isozymes]], and [[Photoperiodism | photoperiod sensitivity]].<ref name="biology-utilization">{{Cite book |last=Bates |first=David M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ku2YDwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&hl=en |title=Biology and Utilization of the Cucurbitaceae |last2=Robinson |first2=Richard W. |date=2019-05-15 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-1-5017-4544-7 |language=en}}</ref>


This species is grown widely from Argentina and Chile to Mexico. It is also cultivated in regions of the world including India, Japan, Korea, China, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Angola.<ref name="biology-utilization" /><ref name="medicinal-nonmedicinal">{{Citation |last=Lim |first=T. K. |title=Cucurbita ficifolia |date=2012 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1764-0_39 |work=Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 2, Fruits |pages=250–255 |editor-last=Lim |editor-first=T. K. |place=Dordrecht |publisher=Springer Netherlands |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-94-007-1764-0_39 |isbn=978-94-007-1764-0 |access-date=2022-12-18}}</ref>
This species is grown widely from Argentina and Chile to Mexico. It is also cultivated in regions of the world including India, Japan, Korea, China, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Angola.<ref name="biology-utilization" /><ref name="medicinal-nonmedicinal">{{Citation |last=Lim |first=T. K. |title=Cucurbita ficifolia |date=2012 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1764-0_39 |work=Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 2, Fruits |pages=250–255 |editor-last=Lim |editor-first=T. K. |place=Dordrecht |publisher=Springer Netherlands |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-94-007-1764-0_39 |isbn=978-94-007-1764-0 |access-date=2022-12-18}}</ref>

Revision as of 01:38, 18 December 2022

"Cidra" redirects here. Not to be confused with Cidra, Puerto Rico or cider.

Cucurbita ficifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Genus: Cucurbita
Species:
C. ficifolia
Binomial name
Cucurbita ficifolia
Bouché
Synonyms[1]
  • Cucurbita melanosperma A.Braun ex Gasp.
  • Cucurbita mexicana Dammann
  • Pepo ficifolia (Bouché) Britton
  • Pepo malabaricus Sageret

Cucurbita ficifolia is a species of squash, grown for its edible seeds, fruit, and greens.[2] It has common names including Asian pumpkin, black seed squash, chilacayote, cidra, fig-leaf gourd, and Malabar gourd. Compared to other domesticated species in its genus, investigators have noted that samples of C. ficifolia from throughout its range are relatively similar to one other in morphology and genetic composition. Variations do occur in fruit and seed color, some isozymes, and photoperiod sensitivity.[3]

This species is grown widely from Argentina and Chile to Mexico. It is also cultivated in regions of the world including India, Japan, Korea, China, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Angola.[3][4]

No named agricultural cultivars have been recognized. Research suggests that C. ficifolia represents an earlier evolutionary branch than the other major cultivated Cucurbita species, but biosystematic investigations have established that C. ficifolia is not as distinct from the other domesticated Cucurbita species as early botanists had concluded. It has been noted to form interspecific hybrids with Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita pepo.[3]

Common names

Description

Like most members of the genus Cucurbita, C. ficifolia is a climbing vine that is an annual in temperate climates and a perennial in tropical zones. Unlike some other Cucurbita species, it does not have swollen storage roots.[9] The plant stem can grow five to fifteen meters and produces tendrils that help it climb adjacent plants and structures. It may root from the leaf axils,[14] unlike most other curcubits. The vine can become semiwoody if left to grow perennially, although most commercial plants are annual. Its leaves resemble fig leaves, hence its most common name in English – fig-leaf gourd – and its Latin species name (C. ficifolia which means fig leaf). The fruit is oval, resembling a watermelon, with wide black seeds. In stark contrast to other Cucurbita, its fruit is highly uniform in size, shape, and color.[15]

The plant is monoecious with imperfect flowers (meaning its flowers are either male or female but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by insects, especially bees. The color of the flowers is yellow to orange.

The fruit is oblong with a diameter of eight inches or 20 centimeters, weighs eleven to 13 pounds (5 to 6 kilograms), and can produce up to 500 seeds. Its skin can vary from light or dark green to cream. One plant can produce over 50 fruit. The fruit can last without decomposing for several years if kept dry after harvest.

Origin and distribution

It is native to the Americas, although the exact center of domestication is unclear. Linguistic evidence suggests Mexico, because of the wide use of names based on the Nahuatl name "chilacayohtli" as far south as Argentina. However, archaeological evidence suggests Peru because the earliest remains have been found there. Biosystematics has been unable to confirm either hypothesis.[16]

Archeological records show that it was once the most widespread variety of Cucurbita in the Americas, cultivated from northern Chile and Argentina Northwest to Mexico.[17] Now it is grown as far north as southern California. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Europeans introduced it to the Mediterranean regions of Europe (specifically France and Portugal) as well as India. From there it has spread to many other parts of the world and picked up more names.

Cultivation

The fig-leaved gourd grows in temperate highlands at elevations up to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft).[18] It is often used as a grafting rootstock for other less resistant cucurbits. C. ficifolia can be propagated through planting seeds and by layering. Tendrils can grow into roots if anchored into the soil, and can propagate new plants once cut, which can be moved to new sites.[citation needed] Because it is not very resistant to frost, it is often planted after this risk has passed. Established plants, however can withstand short overnight frosts.

Uses

Culinary

The most nutritional part of Cucurbita ficifolia is its fat- and protein-rich seeds, which can vary in color from white to black.[citation needed]

The flowers, leaves and tender shoots are used in Mexico and other countries as greens.[citation needed]

Shell and flesh

The immature fruit is eaten cooked, while the mature fruit is sweet and used to make confectionery and beverages[19], sometimes alcoholic.[20] The fruit is low in beta-carotene, as can be seen from its white flesh, and is relatively low in vitamins and minerals, and moderately high in carbohydrates.[citation needed]

In Spain this squash is used to make a jam known as "cabello de ángel" (angel's hair), "cabell d'àngel" in Catalan, that is used to fill pies, sweets and confectionery. In Portugal, where the fruit is known as "chila" or "gila", it is used extensively in the production of traditional Portuguese sweets and confectionery.[citation needed]

In Chile jam is often made out of the fruit. In Costa Rica, it is traditional to make empanadas stuffed with sugared filling at Easter time.

In Asia, the pulp strands are used to make soup, quite similar to shark fin soup, hence the name "shark's fin melon". The cultivation and this usage feature briefly in the film Grow Your Own.[citation needed]

Seeds

Cilacayote seeds are used in Mexico to make palanquetas, a sweet similar to peanut brittle.[citation needed]

Medicinal

Across Asia, eating Cucurbita ficifolia is said to help people with diabetes. Several scientific studies have confirmed its hypoglycemic effect.[10] It is used effectively to treat diabetes due to its high D-Chiro-Inositol content.[21][19]

Animal feed

The vine and fruit are used for fodder.[citation needed] In Portugal, it was has been used to feed pigs.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "A Working List of All Plant Species". theplantlist.org. The Plant List. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Cucurbita ficifolia - Bouché". Plants for a Future. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Bates, David M.; Robinson, Richard W. (2019-05-15). Biology and Utilization of the Cucurbitaceae. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-1-5017-4544-7.
  4. ^ Lim, T. K. (2012), Lim, T. K. (ed.), "Cucurbita ficifolia", Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants: Volume 2, Fruits, Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, pp. 250–255, doi:10.1007/978-94-007-1764-0_39, ISBN 978-94-007-1764-0, retrieved 2022-12-18
  5. ^ "Figleaf Gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia)". FWS.gov. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  6. ^ Dąbrowska, Anna; Szołtysik, Marek; Babij, Konrad; Pokora, Marta; Zambrowicz, Aleksandra; Chrzanowska, Józefa (2013). "Application of Asian pumpkin (Cucurbita ficifolia) serine proteinase for production of biologically active peptides from casein". Acta Biochimica Polonica. 60 (1): 117–122. ISSN 1734-154X. PMID 23520577.
  7. ^ Konrad, Babij; Anna, Dąbrowska; Marek, Szołtysik; Marta, Pokora; Aleksandra, Zambrowicz; Józefa, Chrzanowska (2014-12-01). "The Evaluation of Dipeptidyl Peptidase (DPP)-IV, α-Glucosidase and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitory Activities of Whey Proteins Hydrolyzed with Serine Protease Isolated from Asian Pumpkin (Cucurbita ficifolia)". International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics. 20 (4): 483–491. doi:10.1007/s10989-014-9413-0. ISSN 1573-3904. PMC 4210635. PMID 25364320.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link)
  8. ^ a b c d e "Cucurbita ficifolia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  9. ^ a b c d e Saade, R. Lira; Hernández, S. Montes. "Cucurbits". Purdue Horticulture. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  10. ^ a b Acosta-Patiño, J.L.; Jiménez-Balderas, E.; Juárez-Oropeza, M.A.; Dı́Az-Zagoya, J.C. (2001). "Hypoglycemic action of Cucurbita ficifolia on Type 2 diabetic patients with moderately high blood glucose levels". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 77 (1): 99–101. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(01)00272-0. PMID 11483384.
  11. ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  12. ^ NRCS. "Cucurbita ficifolia". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  13. ^ a b
  14. ^ Grubben, G.J.H. (2004). "Cucurbita ficifolia Bouché". In Grubben, G.J.H.; Denton, O.A. (eds.). PROTA 2: Vegetables/Légumes. Wageningen, Netherlands: PROTA. Archived from the original on 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
  15. ^ Nee, Michael (1990). "The Domestication of Cucurbita (Cucurbitaceae)". Economic Botany. 44 (3, Supplement: New Perspectives on the Origin and Evolution of New World Domesticated Plants). New York: New York Botanical Gardens Press: 56–68. doi:10.1007/BF02860475. JSTOR 4255271. S2CID 40493539.
  16. ^ Neglected crops: 1492 from a different perspective (ch 10)
  17. ^ Bisognin, Dilson Antônio (2002). "Origin and evolution of cultivated cucurbits". Ciência Rural. 32 (4): 715–723. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.562.2280. doi:10.1590/S0103-84782002000400028.
  18. ^ Ng, Timothy J. (1993). "New Opportunities in the Cucurbitaceae: New World Cucurbits". Purdue University. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  19. ^ a b Moya-Hernández, A.; Bosquez-Molina, E.; Serrato-Díaz, A.; Blancas-Flores, G.; Alarcón-Aguilar, F. J. (2018-05-01). "Analysis of genetic diversity of Cucurbita ficifolia Bouché from different regions of Mexico, using AFLP markers and study of its hypoglycemic effect in mice". South African Journal of Botany. 116: 110–115. doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2018.02.409. ISSN 0254-6299.
  20. ^ Salehi, Bahare; Sharifi-Rad, Javad; Capanoglu, Esra; Adrar, Nabil; Catalkaya, Gizem; Shaheen, Shabnum; Jaffer, Mehwish; Giri, Lalit; Suyal, Renu; Jugran, Arun K.; Calina, Daniela; Oana Docea, Anca; Kamiloglu, Senem; Kregiel, Dorota; Antolak, Hubert (January 2019). "Cucurbita Plants: From Farm to Industry". Applied Sciences. 9 (16): 3387. doi:10.3390/app9163387. ISSN 2076-3417.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  21. ^ Xia, T; Wang, Q (2006). "D-chiro-inositol found in Cucurbita ficifolia (Cucurbitaceae) fruit extracts plays the hypoglycaemic role in streptozocin-diabetic rats". The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 58 (11): 1527–32. doi:10.1211/jpp.58.10.0014. PMID 17132216. S2CID 25816373.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cucurbita ficifolia.
  • Acosta-Patiño, J.L.; Jiménez-Balderas, E.; Juárez-Oropeza, M.A.; Dı́Az-Zagoya, J.C. (2001). "Hypoglycemic action of Cucurbita ficifolia on Type 2 diabetic patients with moderately high blood glucose levels". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 77 (1): 99–101. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(01)00272-0. PMID 11483384.
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