img

Lagenaria siceraria

(Molina) Standl. (1930)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Cucurbitales Family: Cucurbitaceae Genus: Lagenaria

bottle gourd, ipu, long squash, white flowered gourd, white-flowered squash

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form:

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves:

Flowers:

Fruit:

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Synonyms (48)

Adenopus abyssinicus var. somaliensis Chiov. (1916)
Cucumis bicirrha J.R.Forst. ex Guill. (1837)
Cucumis lagenaria (L.) Dumort. (1827)
Cucumis mairei H.Lév. (1916)
Cucurbita ciceraria Molina (1782)
Cucurbita idololatrica Willd. (1805)
Cucurbita lagenaria L. (1753)
Cucurbita lagenaria var. oblonga Blanco (1837)
Cucurbita lagenaria var. villosa Blanco (1837)
Cucurbita leucantha Duchesne (1786)
Cucurbita longa W.M.Fletcher (1885)
Cucurbita pyriformis M.Roem. (1846)
Cucurbita siceraria Molina (1782)
Cucurbita vittata Blume (1826)
Lagenaria bicornuta Chakrav. (1968)
Lagenaria cochinchinensis M.Roem. (1846)
Lagenaria hispida Ser. (1828)
Lagenaria idolatrica (Willd.) Ser. (1828)
Lagenaria lagenaria (L.) Cockerell (1892)
Lagenaria leucantha Rusby (1896)
Lagenaria leucantha var. depressa (Ser.) Makino (1940)
Lagenaria leucantha var. makinoi Nakai (1942)
Lagenaria leucantha var. microcarpa (Tod.) Nakai (1942)
Lagenaria microcarpa Naudin (1855)
Lagenaria siceraria f. depressa (Ser.) M.Hiroe (1971)
Lagenaria siceraria f. microcarpa (Naudin) M.Hiroe (1971)
Lagenaria siceraria subsp. asiatica (Kobjakova) Heiser (1973)
Lagenaria siceraria var. depressa (Ser.) H.Hara (1948)
Lagenaria siceraria var. gourda (Ser.) H.Hara (1948)
Lagenaria siceraria var. laevisperma Millán (1946)
Lagenaria siceraria var. microcarpa (Tod.) H.Hara (1948)
Lagenaria verrucosa Anon. (1890)
Lagenaria virginalis Mast. (1892)
Lagenaria vittata Ser. (1828)
Lagenaria vulgaris Ser. (1825)
Lagenaria vulgaris f. clavata (Ser.) Juel, Junell & Örtendahl (1928)
Lagenaria vulgaris f. gourda (Ser.) Juel, Junell & Örtendahl (1928)
Lagenaria vulgaris subsp. afrikana Kobjakova (1930)
Lagenaria vulgaris subsp. asiatica Kobjakova (1930)
Lagenaria vulgaris var. clavata Ser. (1825)
Lagenaria vulgaris var. depressa Ser. (1828)
Lagenaria vulgaris var. elongata Tod. (1858)
Lagenaria vulgaris var. gourda Ser. (1825)
Lagenaria vulgaris var. microcarpa Tod. (1858)
Lagenaria vulgaris var. pyriformis Kobjakova (1930)
Lagenaria vulgaris var. viscosa Eggers (1879)
Pepo lagenarius Moench (1794)
Trochomeria rehmannii Cogn. (1924)

Uses and Culture

USES

  • For treatment of hehena a moe‘ole a ka po, young leaves are ingested in conjunction with dried niu (coconut, Cocos nucifera) and ‘uala (sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas). For illnesses such as papaku, hoaka, and wai‘opua the flesh of the ipu is combined with noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia) and water and delivered as an enema. For pu‘ao pelu and maybe ha‘ule, the treatment combines ipu fruit flesh with leaf buds, leaves, and stems of the kukaepuaa (Digitaria setigera) (Chun 1994:117–120).

  • The hardened fruit is made into a variety of containers, for water, food, dyes, etc. (Krauss 1993:19–22). Also used for musical instruments, such as the bases of ‘uli‘uli (hula rattles), knee drums, ‘ulili, pa ipu or ipu heke (a percussion instrument made by joining two ipu, one atop the other) (Abbott 1992:120; Krauss 1993:881–83). The ipu was also used to chase away sharks (Lucas 1982:39) fisherman carried their lines and hooks in gourds and taken on sea voyages so if the canoe overturned the gourds would float and could be retrieved (Kamehameha Schools 1994:15). Ritual use includes headgear depicted by the Cook expedition (e.g., see Weber's illustration in Abbott 1992:78). They served as masks worn by priests and not by warriors, as the ipu is fairly fragile.

CULTURE

  • [I] ‘A‘ohe ipu ‘opio e ‘ole ka mimino i ka la. No immature gourd can withstand withering in the sun [without care]. No child can get along without adult supervision. [II] Ua malo‘o ka pua hue. The gourd blossom has withered. Said of a person withered with age.

  • Kinolau of Lono

PROPAGATION/CULTIVATION

  • Handy et al. (1972:215–217) suggest that the beginning of the rainy season is the proper time to plant ipu. This allows for the hot, dry summer months to bring them to maturity (in about 6 months). While the ipu is growing the vine can be propped up with a small frame of sticks (ko‘o la‘au or haka) to keep the ipu up off the ground. In addition, stones that might mar the base of the ipu are removed and grass, leaves, or a board can be placed below.

Natural History

Statewide Status

Only found in cultivation

Island Status

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

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 3: 435 (1930)

Other References

Non-naturalized Polynesian introduction; Staples & Herbst 2005:262 (KEY), 267 (DESCR)

Laau Hawaii (Abbott) p.16

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. volcano rocky slope PRESERVED_SPECIMEN degener, o. degener, i. collector number: 35907 Maui BISH 12/1/1983
2 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. N trail from Lua Makika to Hakioawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN O Degener|I Degener kahoolawe HAPI 12/1/1983
3 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. amy b.h. greenwell gardens PRESERVED_SPECIMEN meilleur, b. collector number: 1551 Maui US 12/21/1991
4 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. by bishop museum, at tennis court PRESERVED_SPECIMEN kalili, e. kipi, n. Oahu BISH 1/21/1941
5 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. honolulu, bishop museum courtyard full sun PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lau, j. collector number: 2577 Oahu BISH 6/26/1986
6 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. Koloa District. Salt Pond Beach Park, just southwest of Hanapepe PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lorence, D. H. 6436 Kauai US 5/14/1990
7 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. koloa, salt pond beach park, just sw of hanapepe, between road and salt pond valley bottom with secondary vegetation of Psidium, Schinus, Aleurites, and Schefflera with Pandanus and other native remnants. Occasional along steam in clearings. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lorence, d.h. collector number: 6463 Kauai BISH 5/14/1990
8 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. kawaihae PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hosaka, e.y. Hawaii BISH 6/1/1938
9 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. honolulu, bishop museum courtyard climbing wire fence PRESERVED_SPECIMEN neal, m.c. Oahu BISH 4/6/1944
10 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. volcano. degener garden PRESERVED_SPECIMEN degener, o. 35906 HO 12/9/1983
11 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener 36092 MPM 1/16/1984
12 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. Salt Pond Beach Park, just West of Hanapepe. Low, shrubby secondary vegetation of Batis maritima and Pluchea indica between road and salt pond. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN David H. Lorence 6436 Kauai PTBG 5/14/1990
13 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. roadside near ewa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN forbes, c.n. collector number: 1921.o Maui BISH 7/1/1914
14 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. grown at degener garden, volcano PRESERVED_SPECIMEN otto degener; isa degener 35906 NY 12/8/1983
15 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. cultivatet in degenergarden in volcano PRESERVED_SPECIMEN otto degener 35,906 O 12/30/1983
16 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. Along road at edge of canefield, ca. 1 mi. EAST of Makawehi Point, Poipu. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lynwood Hume 347 Kauai PTBG 5/25/1988
17 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. Volcano, Kau Desert PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Degener, O.; Degener, I. 35906a Hawaii US 1/1/1984
18 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. koloa district. salt pond beach park, just southwest of hanapepe PRESERVED_SPECIMEN d. h. lorence 6436 Oahu US 5/14/1990
19 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. pahala, kau, hawaii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN degener, o.; degener, i. 36092 USP 1/16/1984
20 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. honolulu, bought at vegetable market on nuuanu avenue PRESERVED_SPECIMEN neal, m.c. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 7/28/1942
21 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. waipahu cultural gardens, 94-695 waipahu st Trichomanes cyrtotheca PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lau, j. cory, c. Lanai BISH 3/10/1986
Back to Top