‘Cucuzzi’

Ref: CUCU_LA_SICE_001

Common Name: Bottle Gourd / Gourde / Νεροκολοκύθα

Scientific Name: Lagenaria siceraria

Plant’s cycle: Annual

Light Requirement: full sun

Soil type: Rich soils of all kind

Sowing in nursery: April

Direct Planting: May

Germination: 10 days after sowing (20 – 25 ºC)

Harvest:    90 days after sowing

Spacing: 80cm/80cm/2cm deep  

Flowers are Monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant)

Pollination: by insects

Plant is self-fertile

Seed preservation: 6 years

Edible Parts: Flowers; Fruit; Leaves; Seed.

Medicine: Antibiotic;  Antidote;  Diuretic;  Emetic;  Febrifuge;  Lithontripic;  Odontalgic;  Poultice;  Purgative;  Stomachic;  Vermifuge

The pulp around the seed is emetic and purgative. A poultice of the crushed leaves has been applied to the head to treat headaches. The flowers are an antidote to poison. The stem bark and the rind of the fruit are diuretic. The fruit is antilithic, diuretic, emetic and refrigerant. The juice of the fruit is used in the treatment of stomach acidity, indigestion and ulcers. The seed is vermifuge. A poultice of the boiled seeds has been used in the treatment of boils. Extracts of the plant have shown antibiotic activity.

Other Uses: Bottles; Containers;

The shell of well-ripened fruits is very hard and can be used for many purposes such as bottles, bowls, musical instruments etc.