1386

                                            Cucurbita maxima Duchesne

Synonym	:	Cucurbita maxima var. boliviana Zhit.
Family	:	Cucurbitaceae
Local name	:	English- Giant Pumpkin Malayalam- Vellarimathan
Flowering and fruiting period	:	July-September
Distribution	:	Cosmopolitan, mostly cultivated
Habitat	:	Long-fallow, loamy soil
Uses		The seeds are diuretic, tonic and vermifuge. The complete seed, together with the husk, is used as a vermifuge. 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.
Key botanical characters: Giant Pumpkin is an annual climber growing up to 5 m at a fast rate. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. Fruit is cooked and eaten. A delicious flavour when baked, rather like a sweet potato. The flesh can be dried, ground into a powder and used with cereals in making bread, cakes etc. Some varieties can be stored for up to 9 months. Seed - raw or cooked. The seed can also be ground into a powder and used with cereals in making breads etc. Young flowers are eaten raw or cooked. They are often dipped in batter and fried. Young leaves and stems are cooked and eaten.