Scientific Name:
Lagenaria
spp.
Pronunciation:
lah-gen-AR-yah
Common Name:
gourd
Family Name:
Cucurbitaceae
Plant Type:
Annual (true), Vine or climber
Key ID Features:
Annual vine forming odd-shaped or textured gourds; leaves alternate, ovate-orbicular, 15-30cm wide, pubescent, base cordate; flowers, pepos of various shapes and textures, 20-90cm long, sometimes edible or used for various purposes.
Habit:
Spreading
Form:
Climbing, Creeping / Mat-like
Texture:
Coarse
Mature Height:
1.3 - 2.0m
Mature Spread:
4 - 5m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Africa (tropical countries)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 2: (-46 to -40 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Urban agriculture
Additional Info:
Google. Species shown: L. siceraria (the other six species are less commonly grown in Canada).
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Lobed
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Orbicular, Ovate
Apices:
Obtuse
Bases:
Cordate
Margins:
Entire, Palmately lobed, Undulate (wavy)
Additional Info:
Leaves with two-branched tendrils
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers solitary
Flower Morphology:
Monoecious plant
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Funnelform
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White
Flower Time at Peak:
Jul, Aug
Fruit Type:
Pepo
Fruit Colour:
White, Orange, Yellow, Green, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Showy
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Tendrils, Twining stems
Propagation:
Seed
Other:
Support climbers
Pest Susceptibility:
Anthracnose, Aphids or adelgids, Beetles or weevils, Caterpillar or cutworm, Heteroptera - true bugs, Mildew, Wilt
