Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. (Cucurbitaceae)

Scientific name
Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.
Family name
Cucurbitaceae
Common name
Bottle gourd (English); yugao (Japanese)
Local name
Namtao
Monoecious annual climber. Stem ribbed. Tendrils strong, usually bifid; branches unequal; petioles up to 20 cm long. Leaves simple, alternate, ovate-reniform or suborbicular, up to 30 cm in diameter, undivided or obscurely divided, with 5–9 lobes, dentate, pubescent, musky-scented. Flowers axillary, solitary, white, up to 12 cm in diameter. Calyx campanulate, 5-lobed. Petals 5, free. Male flowers on long pedicels, 5–25 cm long; stamens with 3 free filaments, anthers lightly cohering, but not connate. Female flowers on short pedicels, 2–7 cm long; ovary with 3 placentae and numerous ovules, completely clothed with white gland-tipped hairs, stigmas 3, thick, bilobed. Fruit a pepo, variable in size and shape, often globular, bottle or club-shaped, up to and exceeding 1 m long, with hard durable rind; flesh white, soft. Seeds corky, broad and flat or narrow and 2-pronged, 10–25 mm long, whitish or brownish.
Traditional medicinal use
Functionality
Functional constituents
Commonly grown as a vegetable in hot, humid lowlands, but found year-round at elevations from sea level to 1600 m a.s.l. Short days promote flower formation but have no effect on sex expression. Propagated by direct seed sowing in the field. Strong, sturdy posts are needed to support the growing plant and soils should be light and well drained (pH 6–7).
Young fruits or shoots are boiled, steamed, or fried, or cooked in various curries such as kaeng namtao oon. Contains 95 g water, 0.5 g protein, 0.1 g fat, 3.5 g carbohydrates, 10 IU vitamin A, 0.04 mg vitamin B1, 0.02 mg vitamin B2, 0.4 mg niacin, 11 mg vitamin C, 16 mg calcium, 0.4 mg iron, 14 mg phosphorus per 100-g serving.
Fruits
Fruits
Fruits