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Useful Temperate Plants

Abobra tenuifolia

(Hook. & Arn.) Cogn.

Cucurbitaceae

+ Synonyms

Abobra viridiflora Naudin

Bryonia tenuifolia Gillies

Common Name: Cranberry Gourd

Abobra tenuifolia

General Information

Cranberry gourd is a perennial climbing plant producing annual stems up to 3.5 metres long from a fleshy rootstock. The stems scramble over the ground, climbing into the surrounding vegetation and supporting themselves by means of tendrils.
The fruit is said to be sometimes harvested from the wild and eaten locally.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

Range

S. America - Argentina, Uruguay

Habitat

Found from sea level to 500 metres.

Properties

Edibility Rating *
HabitPerennial Climber
Height3.50 m
PollinatorsInsects
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of low to moderate elevations, mainly in the subtropical zone.
Requires a warm sunny position and a light soil[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
,
245
Title
Scented Flora of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Genders. R.
Publisher
Robert Hale. London.
Year
1994
ISBN
0-7090-5440-8
Description
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
].
The plant has a fleshy root about 30cm below the soil surface[
219
Title
Gardening on Walls
Publication
 
Author
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V.
Publisher
Collins
Year
1983
ISBN
0-00-219220-0
Description
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.
].
The greenish-white flowers are powerfully scented[
245
Title
Scented Flora of the World.
Publication
 
Author
Genders. R.
Publisher
Robert Hale. London.
Year
1994
ISBN
0-7090-5440-8
Description
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms must be grown if seed is required[
219
Title
Gardening on Walls
Publication
 
Author
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V.
Publisher
Collins
Year
1983
ISBN
0-00-219220-0
Description
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.
].

Edible Uses

Fruit[
177
Title
Plants for Human Consumption.
Publication
 
Author
Kunkel. G.
Publisher
Koeltz Scientific Books
Year
1984
ISBN
3874292169
Description
An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. No more details. The egg-shaped fruit is about 12mm long[
219
Title
Gardening on Walls
Publication
 
Author
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V.
Publisher
Collins
Year
1983
ISBN
0-00-219220-0
Description
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow mid spring in a rich compost in the greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-05. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Abobra+tenuifolia>

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