Cucurbita maxima

Scientific name: Cucurbita maxima Duch. ex Lamk.

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Bengali/Vernacular name: Mistikumra, Mithakumra, Mithakadu (Bengali); Misti komra (Noakhali).

Tribal name: Kuma shak, Jhum kumra (Tanchangya); Subre gula, Shugurishak (Chakma); Chang buci (Chak); Aamy-kamsen (Khumi); Mai (Lushai); Frung shi rho (Marma); Sang-pa (Murang); Mypore (Pangkhoa); Pha-oim-bawn, Phalong-sthei (Rakhaing); Somroi bukung (Tripura).

English name: Melon pumpkin, Red gourd, Squash gourd, Sweet gourd, Winter squash.

Description of the plant: An annual, prostrate or climbing, herbaceous vine. Stem cylindric, elongate, grooved. Tendrils 2-6 fid, slightly setose. Leaves are hispid, rounded, 15 to 30 centimeters in diameter, heart-shaped at the base, shallowly 5-lobed, with finely toothed margins, and often mottled on the upper surface, petioles 10-20 cm long hairy. Flowers monoecious, solitary, yellow, large, campanulate. Fruits large, variable in shape, fleshy, with a yellow pulp. Seeds ovoid or oblong, compressed, white or yellowish.

Plant parts used: Fruit.

Medicinal uses: Juice extracted from the fruit is taken twice a day for seven days to treat constipation.

Fruit pulp is often used as poultice for the treatment of carbuncles, boils and ulcers.

Distribution: Cultivated throughout the country.

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