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Summary
Cucurbita digitata is a prostrate vine with a deep root found in hot, arid regions with low rainfall. It is one of only a few xerophyte species in the genus Cucurbita. As a Carbon Farming Solutions plant it is a good protein-oil staple Crop; each white seed is about 35% protein and 50% fat.
Physical Characteristics
Cucurbita digitata is an evergreen Perennial growing to 5 m (16ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
No synonyms are recorded for this name.
Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Oil Seed
Edible Uses: Oil
Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple Crop: protein-oil (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people's diets in a particular region of the world) [1-1]. The fruit is bitter and generally not edible. The fruit is a dark green squash, rounded or nearly rounded, with mottling and distinct white stripes. A few animals may eat the flesh while trying to get at the seeds. Each white seed is about a centimeter long and at 35% protein and 50% fat is a nutritious food.
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
None Known
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Oil
Seed oil is made from a number of plants in the Cucurbita genus. For example, Buffalo gourd oil is a seed oil, extracted from the seeds of the Cucurbita foetidissima. The seeds of the Buffalo gourd are rich in oil and protein, and were used by American Indians to make soap. The oil's fatty acid composition is dominated by linoleic acid (64.5%) and oleic acid (17.1%).[
Special Uses
Carbon Farming Food Forest
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Management: Standard New Crop Staple Crop: Protein-oil
Climate: subtropical. Humidity: arid to semi-arid. A hairy vining plant similar in appearance to its close relative Cucurbita palmata but the lobes of its leaves are usually more slender. It is a prostrate vine, rarely climbing, with a deep root and slender branches. These species form the only restricted xerophyte species group in the genus Cucurbita. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: new crop. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation) [1-1].
Carbon Farming
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Management: Standard
Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
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New Crop
Most new crops were important wild plants until recently, although some are the result of hybridization. They have been developed in the last few, decades. What they have in common is that they are currently cultivated by farmers. Examples include baobab, argan, and buffalo gourd.
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Staple Crop: Protein-oil
(16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Propagation
Seed.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Calabacillo, Menoncillo, chichi coyota, chichicayote, meloncillo, melón de coyote, calabaza amarga, calabacilla, Finger-Leaf Gourd, fingerleaf gourd, finger-leafed gourd, coyote gourd, Bitter squash.
Native Plant Search
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Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Mexico, North America, USA
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
None Known
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Abobra tenuifolia | Cranberry Gourd | Perennial Climber | 3.5 |
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| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 0 | |
| Acanthosicyos horridus | Naras. Butterpips | Perennial | 1.0 |
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| F | LM | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Benincasa hispida | Wax Gourd | Annual | 6.0 |
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| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Bryonia alba | White Bryony | Perennial Climber | 4.0 |
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| F | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Bryonia dioica | Red Bryony, Cretan bryony | Perennial Climber | 3.5 |
5-9
| F | LMH | SN | M | 1 | 2 | |
| Citrullus colocynthis | Perennial egusi, Bitter-apple | Perennial | 3.0 |
10-12
| F | LM | N | DM | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Citrullus lanatus | Water Melon | Annual | 0.5 |
8-11
| | LM | N | DM | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Coccinia grandis | Ivy Gourd | Perennial | 3.0 |
8-11
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Cucumis anguria | Gherkin, West Indian gherkin | Annual Climber | 2.4 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Cucumis melo | Melon, Cantaloupe | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Cucumis melo agrestis | Wild Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 2 | |
| Cucumis melo cantalupensis | Cantaloupe Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | |
| Cucumis melo chito | Orange Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 2 | |
| Cucumis melo conomon | Pickling Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | |
| Cucumis melo flexuosus | Serpent Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | |
| Cucumis melo inodorus | Honeydew Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | |
| Cucumis melo momordica | Snap Melon | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | |
| Cucumis metuliferus | Horned Cucumber, African horned cucumber | Annual Climber | 1.5 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Cucumis sativus | Cucumber, Garden cucumber | Annual Climber | 2.0 |
9-11
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Cucurbita argyrosperma | Cushaw Pumpkin | Annual Climber | 0.5 |
2-11
| | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Cucurbita ficifolia | Malabar Gourd, Figleaf gourd | Perennial Climber | 0.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | SN | MWe | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Cucurbita foetidissima | Buffalo Gourd, Missouri gourd | Perennial Climber | 6.0 |
6-11
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Cucurbita maxima | Winter Squash | Annual Climber | 0.6 |
2-11
| F | LMH | SN | M | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Cucurbita moschata | Squash, Crookneck squash | Annual Climber | 0.6 |
2-11
| F | LMH | SN | M | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Cucurbita pepo | Pumpkin, Field pumpkin, Ozark melon, Texas gourd | Annual Climber | 0.6 |
2-11
| F | LMH | SN | M | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Cyclanthera brachystachya | Cuchinito | Annual | 3.0 |
9-11
| | LMH | S | M | 1 | 0 | |
| Cyclanthera pedata | Achocha, Caihua, Caygua, Cayua, Korila, Wild Cucumber | Annual | 4.5 |
9-11
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Ecballium elaterium | Squirting Cucumber | Perennial | 0.3 |
8-11
| | LMH | N | DM | 0 | 2 | |
| Echinocystis lobata | Wild Cucumber | Annual | 8.0 |
0-0
| F | LMH | N | M | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
A. Gray
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
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