Practical
Plants

Lagenaria siceraria

Bottle Gourd

an annual member of the Lagenaria genus in the family Cucurbitaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
9 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Immature fruit - cooked and used as a vegetable[6][12][7]. They can be boiled, steamed, fried, used in curries or made into fritters[5]. Of variable quality, but some of the selected cultivars from India and China are of very good quality, equivalent to good summer squashes[5]. The pulp around the seed is purgative and should not be eaten[14]. The fruit can be dried for later use[16]. Leaves and young shoots - cooked and used as a potherb[4][5]. Seed - cooked. Rich in oil, it is added to soups etc[5]. A vegetable curd, similar to tofu, can be made from the seed[5]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed. It is used for cooking[3][5]. Yields of up to 45% have been obtained[10].

Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The pulp around the seed is emetic and purgative[14][4][13]. A poultice of the crushed leaves has been applied to the head to treat headaches[11]. The flowers are an antidote to poison[9]. The stem bark and the rind of the fruit are diuretic[9]. The fruit is antilithic, diuretic, emetic and refrigerant[4][9]. The juice of the fruit is used in the treatment of stomach acidity, indigestion and ulcers[13]. The seed is vermifuge[9]. A poultice of the boiled seeds has been used in the treatment of boils[11]. Taken with Achyranthes spp the seed is used to treat aching teeth and gums, boils etc[9]. Extracts of the plant have shown antibiotic activity[9]. In many parts of China 3 grams per day of this species (the report does not say what part of the plant) has been used as a single treatment for diabetes mellitus[9].

Product or use
Antibiotic
Product or use
Antidote
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Lithontripic
Product or use
Odontalgic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Purgative
Product or use
Vermifuge
Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The shell of well-ripened fruits is very hard and can be used for many purposes such as bottles, bowls, musical instruments etc. There are many different shapes of fruits from the various different varieties[1][12][14][15][16][17].

Product or use
Bottles
Product or use
Containers
Product or use
Musical

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
The original habitat is obscure, it is probably Asia or Africa.
Habitat
Not known in the wild.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 10+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse in a rich soil, putting 2 - 3 seeds in a pot and thinning to the strongest plant. Grow on fast and plant out as soon as possible after the last expected frosts, giving some protection until the plants are established and growing well. The seed germinates best at 25°c[16]. Soaking the seeds for 12 hours in warm water prior to sowing can hasten germination[16]. Discard any seeds that have not germinated after 10 days, the plants they produce will not be vigorous enough to succeed outdoors in Britain[16].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained moist good rich circumneutral soil[1][12][16][7]. Requires plenty of moisture in the growing season[1]. Prefers a warm sunny position sheltered from the wind[16]. The bottle gourd is widely cultivated in the tropics and sub-tropics for its edible fruit and for the hard wooden shell of the fruit that can be used as containers, musical instruments etc[8], there are many named varieties with different shaped and sized fruits[16][5][8]. The variety 'Cougourda' is said to be the best for eating[2]. Forms with wooden shells tend not to have an edible flesh[8]. The plants are frost-tender annuals, they grow very rapidly and their stems can reach a length of 9 metres in the summer[16]. A warm summer is required for good production of the fruit[16]. British summers are often too cool for this species and obtaining a crop from outdoor-grown plants in this country is somewhat problematical. The best chance is by starting the plants off early in a warm greenhouse, growing them on fast and then planting them out as soon as possible but making sure that they are not checked by cold weather. Hand pollination of the fruits can increase fruit set[8]. A climbing plant, attaching itself to supports by means of tendrils that grow out of the leaf axils[8]. It can be used as a fast-growing summer screen. The leaves have a strong musky scent that some people find repulsive[8]. The plant is remarkably disease and pest-free, this might be connected to the smell of the leaves[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.

    ↩

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  8. Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  9. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  10. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  11. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  12. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2

  14. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  16. Organ. J. Gourds. Faber 1963-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10

  17. Towle. M. A. The Ethno-Botany of Pre-Columbian Peru.

    ↩

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