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Crescentia cujete

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Bignoniaceae Genus: Crescentia

calabash tree, gourd tree

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Hollowed fruit used to make rattles for hula in the historic period (formerly base was made of small gourds, see Lageraria siceraria or niu, see Cocos nucifera) (Krauss 1993:81–82). In the Ethnology Collection at Bishop Museum there is a post-contact example of the fruit carved with an intricate design.

Natural History

Statewide Status

Only found in cultivation

Island Status

Kaua'i Only found in cultivation
O'ahu Only found in cultivation

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl. 2: 626 (1753)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Crescentia cujete Waipahu Cultural Gardens, 94-695 Waipahu St In partial shade. Preserved_Specimen A spreading tree 4 m. tall with branches reaching out horizontally. Corollas lime-green with reddish-purple venation. Flowers odorless (morning). Lau, J. 2104 Oahu BISH 1986-03-10
2 Crescentia cujete H.L.Lyon Arboretum Upper lawn. Preserved_Specimen 3 inch dbh., Height 12 ft. Flowers, leaves, cauliflorous. Nagata, K.M. 237 Oahu BISH 1967-06-27
3 Crescentia cujete UH Campus Arboretum. Located south of Administrative Services Building 2. Preserved_Specimen Healthy tree 21 ft tall. Diameter at shoulder height 0.77 ft. Crown Spread 25x28 ft. In flower, with immature fruit. Flowers sticky, musky, and pale green w/ purple veination. Haltom, J. 40 Oahu BISH 2023-03-07
4 Crescentia cujete Koloa District: Lawai Valley. Cultivated the National Tropical Botanical Garden Eco. Area: multi-trunked tree of 10 ft. with flat spreading crown to 15 ft. wide. Preserved_Specimen Leaves glossy medium green above, dull paler below; flowers borne along trunk and main stem; clyx dull pale green, corolla glossy whitish-green, garlic scented. Flynn, T.W. 5523 Kauai BISH 1994-03-04
5 Crescentia cujete Honolulu, Kapiolani Park Preserved_Specimen Forbes, A. 30 Oahu BISH 1929-08-09
6 Crescentia cujete Hickam Field Preserved_Specimen Taylor, D. Oahu BISH 1958-11-03
7 Crescentia cujete Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Flowers, no corolla. Taylor, D. Oahu BISH 1945-05-31
8 Crescentia cujete Honolulu, 622 Judd St., residence of A.F.Judd Preserved_Specimen Tree 4.5 m. high, flowers greenish-yellow with fetid odor; frond ovoid, 1/2 cm. diam. Brown, F.B.H. 1265 Oahu BISH 1925-10-04
9 Crescentia cujete Honolulu, Nuuanu Valley, Liliha Street, St. Francis Hospital, left side of entrance to driveway Preserved_Specimen Goo, E.N. Oahu BISH 1933-01-01
10 Crescentia cujete Pearl City, Girl Scout Camp Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1940-10-31
11 Crescentia cujete Honolulu, Foster Garden Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1944-09-01
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