Lagenaria siceraria

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

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  • Botanical Name : Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.
  • Synonyms : Lagenaria vulgaris Ser., Cucurbita lagenaria L.
  • Common Name : Dudhi, Bottle Gourd
  • Plant Family : Cucurbitaceae
  • Plant Form : Climbers
  • Occurrence (Sectors) : 1, 4
  • Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park

About Lagenaria siceraria Plant :

  • Habit : An annual monoecious climber with forked tendrils of 2 unequal arms.
  • Stem : Hairy-silky, grooved.
  • Leaves : 3-5 lobed, base cordate with 5 glands-hairy.
  • Flowers :
    • Male flowers axillary and solitary.
    • Calyx campanulate.
    • Petals 5, white, obovate, crumpled.
    • Stamens 5, in 3 bundles.
    • Female flowers solitary and axillary.
    • Calyx and corolla as in male flowers.
    • Ovary inferior, stigmas 3, bilobed.
  • Fruit : Pepo of various shapes, fusiform or flask-shaped, seeds white, flat, many.
  • Flowering and Fruiting Time : August-October
  • Significance : It is cultivated for its fruits that are used as vegetable.