Cushaw squash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cushaw squash |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cucurbita
|
| Species: |
argyrosperma
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Cucurbita argyrosperma is a type of winter squash or pumpkin. You might also hear it called the Japanese pie pumpkin, cushaw pumpkin, or silver-seed gourd. This plant originally comes from southern Mexico.
It's an annual plant, which means it grows and produces seeds within one year. People in the Americas grow it because it's very nutritious! They harvest its flowers, young shoots, and fruits. But it's most famous for its seeds, which are often used to make tasty sauces. This plant used to be known by a different name, Cucurbita mixta.
Cucurbita argyrosperma is part of the Cucurbita family, which includes many kinds of pumpkins and squashes. It's commonly grown in the United States and from Mexico all the way down to Nicaragua. Out of all the cultivated Cucurbita species, this one is found least often outside the Americas. It first grew in Mesoamerica, and its wild ancestor is a plant called Cucurbita sororia. It's also related to Cucurbita kellyana and Cucurbita palmeri.
Contents
What Does This Plant Look Like?
The Cucurbita argyrosperma plant has bright orange or yellow flowers that bloom in July or August. The plant itself grows about 1 foot (30 cm) tall. However, its vines can spread out quite a lot, reaching 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) wide!
This plant likes soil that drains water well. It has both male and female flowers, which is how it produces fruit. The fruits can grow quite large, sometimes weighing up to 20 pounds (9 kg)! It's often grown near another type of squash called Cucurbita moschata.
How Do People Use Cucurbita Argyrosperma?
People use different parts of the Cucurbita argyrosperma plant in many ways, especially for food.
Eating the Plant
Many parts of this plant can be eaten as vegetables. People enjoy the flowers, stems, young shoots, and even the unripe fruits. In southern Mexico, even the wild types, which can be a bit bitter, are eaten after being washed and cleaned.
When the fruit is ripe, it can be grilled and used to make delicious pies. Sometimes, the ripe fruit is also used to feed animals. The seeds of this plant are also very useful because they can be pressed to make an edible oil.
Native peoples in the Sonoran Desert region, like the Tohono Oʼodham, especially value this squash. They love to eat it when it's still young, using it as a summer squash.
Traditional Health Uses
Cucurbita argyrosperma has also been used in traditional medicine. For example, in the Yucatán region, people have traditionally used the soft flesh of the fruit to help with burns, sores, and skin irritations like eczema. The seeds have also been used in traditional ways to help nursing mothers and to ease pain.
See also
- Pipián
Images for kids
-
Learn more in Spanish about Pipián for kids!
