Cucurbita foetidissima
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Description: Perennial vine up to 9 meters long, usually trailing; rough, fuzzy triangular-ovate blue-gray leaves 12-30 cm long. Flowers axillary, the corolla 6-10 cm long and produces either male or female on the same plant. Fruits 6-9 cm wide, greenish orange.
Field Identification: A vine. The large, roughly triangular leaves of this plant are coarse, almost leathery, and emit what many consider an offensive odor when brushed against. The flower has five yellow petals and measures up to four inches from the base, and the fruit, which is green with white stripes but ripens to a yellowish green, is a globe-shaped gourd measuring 3-4 inches in diameter.
Plant Trivia: The root can measure over one foot in diameter and is described as spindle-shaped in some sources, thickest in the middle and tapering at each tip. Archeological evidence indicas that indigeneous people were utilizing this plant 5000 years ago in the Pecos region of Texas. Has a massive tuberous taproot that stores water and nutrients, allowing it to survive in arid and semi-arid environments. Roots can exceed 1.8 meters (6 feet) in length and weigh over 100 pounds, with some reaching up to 150 pounds.
Occurrence: Occasional along roads and railroads and in waste places. The plant is drought-tolerant, thrives in sandy or loamy soils, and requires minimal water once established.
Bloom Period: Apr-Nov
Plant Use: While the mature fruit is too bitter for human consumption, the seeds can be roasted and eaten. Historically, indigenous peoples used buffalo gourd for medicinal purposes, such as teas from pulverized roots to induce vomiting or speed labor, and mashed plants as poultices for skin conditions. The fibrous parts of the plant were also used for decorative items, musical rattles, and nesting material for wildlife. Additionally, the high carbohydrate and oil content in the roots has attracted interest in biofuel production. Buffalo gourd plays a significant role in its native ecosystem. Its seeds provide food for small mammals, and its flowers were historically a primary pollen source for squash bees, which are important pollinators. The plant’s resilience and low water requirements make it suitable for xeriscaping and drought-tolerant gardening. Both the root and the fruit/seed of the buffalo gourd were utilized by indigenous North Americans. They valued the root for its medicinal properties, and the seeds as a food source. The fruit and roots contain cucurbitacins, a group of triterpenoid glycosides that imparts a very bitter taste, and that can be poisonous in high concentrations. Cucurbitacins are produced by all members of the squash family, but they have been greatly reduced in domesticated squash and cucumbers. The buffalo gourd, however, is rich in cucurbitacin and consumption of this plant requires some processing. Although there are accounts of other parts being consumed, most references mention only the seeds as a food source. Roots and stems have been emulsified and use for laundry soaps and shampoos.
Dichotomous Key:
- Leaves not lobed…………….………..………..C. foetidissima
Leaves deeply lobed…………………………..……….C. texana
stxflora 