Cucurbita maxima

• Botanical Name : Cucurbita maxima Duchesne.
• Synonyms : Cucurbita pepo var. maxima (Duchesne) Delile
• Common Name : Giant Pumpkin, Lal Kodu, Red Gourd
• Plant Family : Cucurbitaceae
• Plant Form : Climbers
• Occurrence (Sectors) : 4, 22
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park

About Cucurbita maxima Plant :

• Habit : A large monoecious climber with tendrils of 3 unequal arms, stem clothed with stiff hairs.
• Leaves : Ovate, oblong, 5-7 lobed, dentate, cordate, hairy and coarse.
• Flowers :
  • Male flowers axillary and solitary, yellow, corolla gamopetalous, campanulate.
  • Stamens 5, monadelphous, anthers conduplicate-sinuous.
  • Female flowers-peduncle very stout, calyx segments 5, large and foliaceous.
  • Corolla as in male.
  • Ovary inferior, large, globose, ovules many on 3 parietal placentas.
• Fruit :
  • A pepo, very large globose pale yellow-orange.
  • Seeds many compressed.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : August-September
• Significance : Cultivated everywhere for its fruits which are used as vegetables.