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Useful Temperate Plants

Cucurbita maxima andreana

Filov

Cucurbitaceae


This species is sometimes treated as a distinct species (as Cucurbita andreana Naudin), though most recent works treat it as a distinct species.

+ Synonyms

Cucurbita andreana Naudin

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Cucurbita maxima andreana is a vigorous, fast-growing annual plant with stems that sprawl over the ground and scramble into the surrounding vegetation where they support themselves by means of tendrils[
1957
Title
Anticancer and antiinflammatory activities of cucurbitacins from Cucurbita andreana
Publication
Cancer Letters 189 (2003) 11-16
Author
Jayaprakasam B. et al
Publisher
 
Year
2003
ISBN
 
Description
 
].
The plant is the wild progenitor of the cultivated Cucurbita maxima with its edible fruits. However, the wild form has bitter-tasting fruits and leaves that are not usually eaten. However, the bitter substances have been shown to contain a number of medicinally active compounds and the plant is of interest in the treatment of cancer and other diseases.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

S. America - Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia

Habitat

Open, weedy places.

Properties

Edibility Rating *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitAnnual Climber
Height3.00 m
Growth RateFast
PollinatorsBees, Insects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Cucurbita maxima andreana is native to the warm temperate regions of Argentina and Uruguay, and is also found in more tropical regions in Bolivia.
Requires a rich, well-drained moisture retentive soil and a sheltered position in the sun or light shade[
37
Title
The Gardener's Assistant.
Publication
 
Author
Thompson. B.
Publisher
Blackie and Son.
Year
1878
ISBN
-
Description
Excellent general but extensive guide to gardening practices in the 19th century. A very good section on fruits and vegetables with many little known species.
,
86
Title
Gourds.
Publication
 
Author
Organ. J.
Publisher
Faber
Year
1963
ISBN
-
Description
Deals with squashes and their relatives. Interesting and readable, it gives cultivation techniques and some details of plant uses.
,
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 to 7.5, but tolerates 5 - 8.5[
86
Title
Gourds.
Publication
 
Author
Organ. J.
Publisher
Faber
Year
1963
ISBN
-
Description
Deals with squashes and their relatives. Interesting and readable, it gives cultivation techniques and some details of plant uses.
,
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. Dry periods with a relatively low humidity favour the best growth - plants are more susceptible to leaf diseases in damp seasons[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
300
Title
Vegetables in the Tropics
Publication
 
Author
Tindall. H. D.
Publisher
MacMillan, Oxford.
Year
1983
ISBN
0-333-24268-8
Description
An excellent, in-depth look at the main vegetable crops that can be grown in the Tropics, plus many less well-known plants.
].
This species is the wild progenitor of the cultivated Cucurbita maxima[
1957
Title
Anticancer and antiinflammatory activities of cucurbitacins from Cucurbita andreana
Publication
Cancer Letters 189 (2003) 11-16
Author
Jayaprakasam B. et al
Publisher
 
Year
2003
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Edible Uses

The fruits of this subspecies are very bitter, especially as the fruit matures. It is possible that early hunter-gatherers in Argentina would have eaten them, probably when they were young, and probably after leaching at least some of the bitter compunds from the fruit[
1956
Title
The Domestication of Cucurbita (Cucurbitaceae)
Publication
Economic Botany, Vol. 44, No. 3, Supplement: New Perspectives on the Origin and Evolution of New World Domesticated Plants (Jul. - Sep., 1990), pp. 56-68
Author
Nee M.
Publisher
 
Year
1990
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Seeds - raw or cooked[
1956
Title
The Domestication of Cucurbita (Cucurbitaceae)
Publication
Economic Botany, Vol. 44, No. 3, Supplement: New Perspectives on the Origin and Evolution of New World Domesticated Plants (Jul. - Sep., 1990), pp. 56-68
Author
Nee M.
Publisher
 
Year
1990
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. The seeds are a good source of oils and protein

Medicinal

All parts of the plant contain bitter-tasting compounds called cucurbitacins.. These bitter substances have been shown to have a number of medicinal activities, including anticancer and antiinflammamtory. This makes them of interest in the treatment of cancer and various other diseases[
1957
Title
Anticancer and antiinflammatory activities of cucurbitacins from Cucurbita andreana
Publication
Cancer Letters 189 (2003) 11-16
Author
Jayaprakasam B. et al
Publisher
 
Year
2003
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Other Uses

None known

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.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-10-07. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Cucurbita+maxima+andreana>

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