fig-leaf gourd

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Fig-leaved Gourd
• Malabar gourd
• blackseed squash
• cidra
• fig-leaf gourd
• sidra
• Pie melon
• fig-leafed gourd
• figleaf gourd

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pepo malabaricus
• Pepo ficifolia
• Cucurbita ficifolia f. melanosperma
• Cucurbita melanosperma
• Cucurbita mexicana
• Cucurbita ficifolia f. leucosperma
• Cucurbita ficifolia var. mexicana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Cucurbitales and the family Cucurbitaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Cucurbita.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several continents and distinct climatic zones. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing in Germany, while its presence in Southwestern Europe is noted in Spain. The species also inhabits the Macaronesian region, specifically within the Canary Islands. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, the plant is established in the Assam region. Finally, its range extends to the Southern Hemisphere, where it is located in New Zealand North.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cucurbita ficifolia is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution and varied environmental settings. It thrives across a wide elevational range, beginning at low-lying coastal habitats and extending up to significant highland reaches. Specifically, the species is found at elevations starting from a minimum of 550 m AMSL, with a mean elevational occupancy of approximately 1900 m AMSL. Its ability to adapt to different topographic gradients allows it to reach a maximum elevation of 3000 m AMSL, demonstrating a high degree of ecological plasticity across both maritime and montane landscapes.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

550 m AMSL

Habitat :

Coastal

Life history

The life history of Cucurbita ficifolia is characterized by a variable lifecycle that can function as an annual, biennial, or perennial, depending on environmental conditions and cultivation practices. As a plant, it exhibits a therophyte life form, specifically categorized under both therophyte classifications (Life_form_1 and Life_form_2), which signifies that it completes its biological cycle through a distinct seasonal progression, often relying on seeds to persist through unfavorable periods.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cucurbita ficifolia is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, specifically classified as a forb. It functions as an obligatory climber, utilizing a vine growth habit to spread across its environment. The plant reaches a mean height of approximately 2 meters and is strictly terrestrial in its ecological positioning, meaning it is neither an epiphyte nor an aquatic species. Furthermore, it exists as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cucurbita ficifolia is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and distinct metabolic capabilities. The leaves exhibit a consistent width profile, with a mean, minimum, and maximum measurement all recorded at 20 cm, suggesting a highly uniform lateral expansion during development. In terms of longitudinal growth, the leaf length reaches a maximum of 18 cm. From a biochemical and nutritional standpoint, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms for its growth.

Leaf length max:

18 cm

Leaf width mean:

20 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cucurbita ficifolia is characterized by a sexual process through a monoecious flowering system, with asexual reproduction being entirely absent. The flowering period is highly flexible and variable, potentially occurring across all months of the year, including December. Pollination is achieved through a biotic syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. While the plant is capable of self-fertilization, its reproductive cycle culminates in the production of relatively large fruits, averaging 20 cm in length and 17.5 cm in width. Within these fruits, the seeds possess a consistent mass of 0.113 g. The dispersal of the species follows a zoochorous syndrome, specifically through endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed via the internal passage of animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit length mean:

20 cm

Fruit width mean:

17.5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

monoecious

Seed mass mean:

0.113 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cucurbita ficifolia has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include D-chiro-Inositol, Sugars, polyphenols.

D-chiro-Inositol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sugars

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

polyphenols

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Cucurbita ficifolia has 4 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Cytotoxic, Neuroprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Antidiabetic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Cytotoxic

1. Proceedings of the Western Pharmacology Society

Neuroprotective

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Cucurbita ficifolia has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Diabetes mellitus, antidiabetic, antioxidant, hyperglycemia.

Diabetes mellitus

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Hyperglycemia

1. Archives of medical research

Preparations

Cucurbita ficifolia has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous (AF) and methanolic (MF) fractions of C. ficifolia pulp and peel hydroethanolic (HE) extracts, traditional preparations.

Aqueous (af) and methanolic (mf) fractions of c. ficifolia pulp and peel hydroethanolic (he) extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Traditional preparations

1. Archives of medical research