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Cucurbita argyrosperma
  • Cushaw Pumpkin

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

Cucurbita argyrosperma 1.jpg
Niche
  • Climber
    Climber
    Plants which support their vertical growth using other structures as a support.
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 9
    Zone 9
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Cucurbita argyrosperma has 5 edible uses listed
Cucurbita argyrosperma has 1 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

The sprouting seed produces a toxic substance in its embryo[1].

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit - cooked[2][3]. Used as a vegetable in pies etc, it can be stored for up to 6 months. Generally the fruit is fibrousy, watery and less richly flavoured than C. maxima., C. moschata. and C. pepo[4]. The flesh can be dried, ground into a powder and mixed with cereals for making bread, cakes etc[4]. The fruit is up to 20cm in diameter[5].

Seed - raw, roasted or dried, ground into a powder and mixed with cereals when making bread etc[4]. The seed is rich in oil and has a pleasant nutty flavour. Although relatively large[4], they are very fiddly to use because they are covered with a fibrous coat[K]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[4]. Leaves - cooked[6].

Flowers - cooked[6][4].

Flowers

Unknown use

Fruit

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Unknown part

Oil

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Cucurbita argyrosperma.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The seeds are vermifuge[7][8]. The complete seed, together with the husk, is used. This is ground into a fine flour, then made into an emulsion with water and eaten. It is then necessary to take a purgative afterwards in order to expel the tapeworms or other parasites from the body[7]. As a remedy for internal parasites, the seeds are less potent than the root of Dryopteris felix-mas, but they are safer for pregnant women, debilitated patients and children[9].

Unknown part

Vermifuge

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Climber

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse in a rich soil. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Sow 2 or 3 seeds per pot and thin out to the best plant. Grow them on fast and plant out after the last expected frosts, giving them cloche or frame protection for at least their first few weeks if you are trying them outdoors.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Cucurbita argyrosperma. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a rich, well-drained moisture retentive soil and a very warm, sunny and sheltered position[2]. Plants are tolerant of high temperatures but sensitive to cool conditions, they favour moderate rainfall but the roots are sensitive to water-logging[5].

A frost-tender annual plant, the Cushaw pumpkin has long been cultivated for its edible fruit especially in warmer temperate and tropical areas. There are some named varieties[4] and these are day-length neutral[5]. Plants can succeed outdoors in Britain in most summers so long as they are started off early in a greenhouse and grown on quickly. Over time, various more or less distinct groups of cultivars have been developed and these have been classified by botanists as detailed below. Since they all have similar requirements, and it can be rather difficult to classify some varieties, we have dealt with them all here and not given them separate entries. 

    C. argyrosperma. The Cushaw pumpkin, as dealt with in this entry. It is subdivided into:-
    C. argyrosperma argyrosperma. The silver-seed gourd. Cultivated mainly for its edible seeds which are larger than in other forms with an attractive silvery edge.
    C. argyrosperma callicarpa. Japanese pie pumpkin or green-stripe cushaw.
    C. argyrosperma stenosperma. Cultivated in Mexico, we do not know of a common name.

This species does not hybridize naturally with other members of this genus, though crosses have been made under controlled conditions[10][6]. Squashes and pumpkins can be differentiated from each other by their fruit stalk, it is angular and polygonal in pumpkins but thick, soft and round in squashes[11].

This species is included in C. moschata by some botanists[10].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Cucurbita argyrosperma. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Cucurbita argyrosperma.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Cucurbita argyrosperma
Genus
Cucurbita
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[2][3][4][5][6]
Medicinal uses
[7][8][9]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[5]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
  • Flowers (Unknown use)
  • Fruit (Unknown use)
  • Leaves (Unknown use)
  • Unknown part (Oil)
  • Seed (Unknown use)
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
  • Unknown part (Vermifuge)
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
9
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Climber
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    annual
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    x meters
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    Insects
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    monoecious











    References

    1. ? Frohne. D. and Pf?nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe ISBN 0723408394 (1984-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.64.7 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 ? The Plantsman. Vol.8. 1986 - 1987. Royal Horticultural Society (1986-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.1 RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society (1987-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.1 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Organ. J. Gourds. Faber (1963-00-00)
    11. ? Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth. ()


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