Squash (Cucurbita moschata)

Squash (Cucurbita moschata) is a plant species in the Cucurbitaceae family. It is an annual herbaceous plant that grows as a vine, utilizing lateral tendrils that branch into 3–4 parts. The stems are soft yet woody, quadrangular in cross-section, hairy, and segmented; they can reach lengths of up to 25 meters, are bright green in color, and often develop roots at the nodes.

The leaves are simple and arranged alternately, lacking stipules. They have grooved petioles (leaf stalks) measuring 9–24 cm in length. The leaf blades are broadly ovate, shallowly palmately lobed into 5–7 segments, and range from 10–35 cm in diameter. They feature a deeply cordate (heart-shaped) base and serrated margins. The surface is covered in fine hairs and sometimes displays white spots, which fade as the leaf matures. There are three primary veins originating from the base of the leaf blade.

The flowers are solitary, bisexual, regular, and pentamerous (five-parted), with a diameter of 10–20 cm; they range in color from lemon yellow to dark orange. The sepals are distinct (free), subulate to linear in shape, and 1–3 cm long. The corolla is campanulate (bell-shaped) with a flared margin. Male flowers have a 16 cm long pedicel (stalk) and three stamens with free filaments; the anthers are typically pressed together to form an elongated, twisted structure. Female flowers have a 3.5 cm long pedicel and an inferior, ellipsoid-shaped ovary. The ovary contains a single locule (chamber), a thick style, and three stigmas, each of which is bifid (forked into two).

The fruit is a berry, varying in shape from round or ovoid to cylindrical. It can weigh up to 10 kg, with a rapid growth rate of up to 350 grams per day, and features 15–30 longitudinal grooves. The coloration of the fruit is highly variable; it is often patterned with green spots and gray stripes, and the surface may be covered in small, wart-like protuberances. The flesh ranges from yellow to orange and contains numerous seeds. The fruit stalk thickens toward the end. The seeds are obovoid and flattened, measuring 1–2 cm in length and 0.5–1 cm in width, with a weight of 200 g per 1,000 seeds. They are generally white or brownish—sometimes dark—with a surface ranging from smooth to slightly rough and featuring prominent edges.

Germination is epigeal, with a hypocotyl 2–3 cm long. The cotyledons are elliptical, 2–4 cm long, with a cuneate base, a blunt apex, and entire margins. Seeds germinate within 5–7 days. The plant develops an extensive fibrous root system and exhibits indeterminate growth; the stem continues to grow as long as it is able to form roots at the nodes. Flowering begins 35–60 days after emergence and continues almost incessantly. The ratio of male to female flowers is approximately 20:1. Anthesis and pollination occur in the morning, facilitated by insects, primarily bees. The flowers are predominantly cross-pollinated. Each stem produces 1–2 fruits. The fruits reach maturity 30–40 days after pollination. The harvest period spans 2–6 months after sowing.

C. moschata grows in tropical regions at elevations ranging from 0 to 1,800 meters, with daytime temperatures above 20°C and nighttime temperatures above 14°C. It is shade-tolerant and can thrive in almost any reasonably fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5–6.8. While drought-resistant, it is sensitive to waterlogging and excessive moisture.

The fruit, leaves, and flowers are all consumed. The fruit is used to make pumpkin pie, snacks, and desserts; the flesh can be steamed and served with grated coconut and sugar, or processed into chips. Ripe pumpkin flesh is often dried to extend its shelf life. The leaves are consumed as a green vegetable. The seeds can be roasted, shelled, and ground into a paste to accompany main dishes, or salted and eaten as a snack. Oil extracted from the seeds is safe for consumption and can also be used as fuel. Freshly ground seeds are used as an anthelmintic (to expel parasitic worms) and can be applied topically to treat skin infections and inflammation. Extracts from the plant may also be useful in suppressing antibodies in certain allergic conditions.

The edible portion (flesh) accounts for 67% of the fruit's total weight, while the seeds and thick rind are discarded. Per 100 grams, the fruit contains: 95.0 g of water, 35 kJ (13 kcal) of energy, 0.7 g of protein, 0.2 g of fat, 2.2 g of carbohydrates, 1.0 g of fiber, 29 mg of calcium (Ca), 19 mg of phosphorus (P), 0.4 mg of iron (Fe), 450 μg of β-carotene, 0.16 mg of thiamin, trace amounts of riboflavin, 0.1 mg of niacin, 10 μg of folate, and 14 mg of ascorbic acid.

Leaves (per 100 g) contain: water 89.2 g, energy 113 kJ (27 kcal), protein 4.0 g, fat 0.2 g, carbohydrates 4.4 g, fiber 2.4 g, Ca 477 mg, P 136 mg, Fe 0.8 mg, β-carotene 3600 μg, thiamin 0.06 mg, riboflavin 0.32 mg, and ascorbic acid 80 mg.

Seeds without shells (per 100 g) contain: water 5.5 g, energy 2331 kJ (555 kcal), protein 23.4 g, fat 46.2 g, carbohydrates 21.5 g, fiber 2.2 g, Ca 57 mg, P 900 mg, Fe 2.8 mg, thiamin 0.15 mg, and niacin 1.4 mg.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Tribe: Cucurbiteae
Genus: Cucurbita L. in Sp. Pl.: 1010 (1753)
Complex: Cucurbita pepo
Species: Cucurbita moschata Duchesne in Ess. Hist. Nat. Courges: 7 (1786)

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Cucurbita pepo var. moschata (Duchesne) Duchesne in J.B.A.M.de Lamarck, Encycl. 2: 152 (1786)
Pepo moschatus (Duchesne) Britton in Brooklyn Bot. Gard. Mem. 1: 96 (1918)

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS

Cucurbita colombiana (Zhit.) Bukasov in Trudy Prikl. Bot., Prilož. 47: 531 (1930)
Cucurbita hippopera Ser. in Fl. Jard. 2: 531 (1847)
Cucurbita macrocarpa Gasp. in Rendiconto Accad. Sci. Soc. Borbon. Napoli 6: 447 (1847)
Cucurbita meloniformis Carrière in Rev. Hort. (Paris) 52: 137 (1880)
Cucurbita moschata var. abbreviata Alef. in Landw. Fl.: 227 (1866)
Cucurbita moschata var. barbarica Alef. (1866)
Cucurbita moschata var. brachiina Alef. (1866)
Cucurbita moschata var. brunnea Alef. (1866)
Cucurbita moschata var. claviformis Harz in Landw. Samenk. 2: 824 (1885)
Cucurbita moschata var. colombiana Zhit. in Trudy Prikl. Bot., Prilož. 47: 312, 531 (1930)
Cucurbita moschata var. cubensis Tod. in Index Seminum (PAL, Panormitani) 1859: 30 (1859)
Cucurbita moschata var. depressa Harz (1885)
Cucurbita moschata var. luffiformis H.Hara in J. Jap. Bot. 22: 49 (1948)
Cucurbita moschata var. macrocarpa (Gasp.) Tod. in Index Seminum (PAL, Panormitani) 1857: 41 (1858)
Cucurbita moschata var. madagascariensis Alef. (1866)
Cucurbita moschata var. magna Harz (1885)
Cucurbita moschata var. manticalis Alef. (1866)
Cucurbita moschata var. meloniformis (Carrière) L.H.Bailey in Gentes Herbarum 7: 468 (1948)
Cucurbita moschata var. mexicana Zhit. (1930)
Cucurbita moschata var. minor Tod. (1858)
Cucurbita moschata var. naudinii Alef. (1866)
Cucurbita moschata var. pusilla Tod. (1859)
Cucurbita moschata var. toonas Makino in Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 36: 183 (1912)
Cucurbita moschata var. vulgaris Tod. (1858)
Cucurbita moschata f. yokohamana Makino in J. Jap. Bot. 6: 6 (1929)
Cucurbita pepo var. meloniformis (Carrière) Makino in Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 22: 170 (1908)
Gymnopetalum calyculatum Miq. in Fl. Ned. Ind., Eerste Bijv.: 332 (1861)
Pepo eximius Sageret in Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) 8: 311 (1826)
Pepo indicus Burm. in Index Univers. Herb. Amboin. 5: 2 verso (1755)
Pepo macrocarpus Poit. in Jard. Bot. Paris: 246 (1816)

PUBLICATIONS

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VERNACULAR NAME

Arabic: قرع مسكي
Assamese: Kumra, Mitha lau
Bengali: কুমার Kumara
Bunun: Baat
Chinese (simplified): 南瓜
Chinese (traditional): 中國南瓜
Czech: Tykev pižmová
Dutch: Muskaatpompoen
English: Squash, Pumpkin, Musk pumpkin, Butternut squash, Golden cushaw, Large cheese pumpkin, Neck pumpkin, Seminole pumpkin, West Indian pumpkin
Finnish: Myskikurpitsa
German: Moschus-Kürbis
Hebrew: דלעת - דלעת הגינה
Hindi: हलवा कद्दू - काशीफल - मीठा कद्दू - पेठा Halwa kaddu, Kashiphal, Mitha kaddu, Petha
Hong Kong: 中國南瓜
Indonesia: Labu kuning, Labu kasturi, Waluh, Labuh, Labu parang
Italian: Zucca moscata
Japanese: カボチャ
Kannada: Sihi kumbala kaayi
Korean: 호박
Macao: 中國南瓜
Malayalam: Kumpalam, Mattanna
Marathi: Kala bhopala, Kashiphal
Polish: Dynia piżmowa
Portuguese: Abóbora, Abóbora-crioula, Abóbora-de-mato-grosso, Abóbora-de-pescoço, Abóbora-de-vaca, Abóbora-gigante, Abóbora-menina, Jerimum-de-leite, Jerimum-jacaré, Jerimum-leite, Moranga
Punjabi: Halwa kaddu, Mittha kaddu
Russian: Тыква мускатная
Santali: ᱠᱚᱦᱚᱱᱰᱟ
Sepedi: Motshatsha
Slovak: Tekvica mošusová
Sotho (Northern): Lefodi, Mpodi
South Africa: Butternut squash
Spanish: Ahuyama, Anco, Auyama, Calabacita amarilla
Swedish: Myskpumpa
Tagalog: Kalabasa
Tamil: புசானி Pucani
Telugu: Gummadi
Thai: ฟักทอง
Tsonga: Tinhwembe
Turkish: Balkabağı
Ukrainian: Гарбуз мускатний
Urdu: کدو Kaddu

Aryo Bandoro
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