Cucurbita okeechobeensis
Cucurbita okeechobeensis, the Okeechobee gourd, is a species of gourd in the family Cucurbitaceae, native to Mexico and the United States. There are two subspecies; one is endemic to Florida, primarily in the region around Lake Okeechobee, the other to the State of Veracruz in eastern Mexico.[2][3] Once abundant,[2] it has state and federal listing as an endangered species.[4]
Okeechobee gourd | |
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C. okeechobeensis subsp. okeechobeensis | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Cucurbitales |
Family: | Cucurbitaceae |
Genus: | Cucurbita |
Species: | C. okeechobeensis |
Binomial name | |
Cucurbita okeechobeensis (Small) L.H.Bailey 1930 | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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One of its peculiarities is the yellow corolla not so common in other Cucurbita species
Taxonomy
The taxonomy of the species and subspecies is uncertain. It was formerly classified as Pepo okeechobeensis.[5]
Some authorities divide it into two subspecies:[6][7]
- Cucurbita okeechobeensis subsp. martinezii — Martinez gourd,[3] - State of Veracruz in Mexico
- Cucurbita okeechobeensis subsp. okeechobeensis — Okeechobee gourd - State of Florida in United States
Description
A climbing vine, C. okeechobeensis leaves have irregular serrate margins with 5 to 7 angular, shallow lobes. Overall the leaf blades are heart or kidney-shaped. Young leaves are covered with downy hair. The bell-shaped flowers are cream-colored, with long corollas (6 to 7 cm).
Ecology
It was often found growing on abandoned alligator nests in pond apple (Annona glabra) groves near Lake Okeechobee.
References
- The Plant List, Cucurbita okeechobeensis (Small) L.H.Bailey
- Andres, Thomas C.; Nabhan, Gary P. (1988). "Taxonomic Rank and Rarity of Cucurbita okeechobeensis". Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina State University. 11: 83–85.
- Nee, Michael (1990). "The Domestication of Cucurbita (Cucurbitaceae)". Economic Botany. New York: New York Botanical Gardens Press. 44 (3, Supplement: New Perspectives on the Origin and Evolution of New World Domesticated Plants): 56–68. doi:10.1007/BF02860475. JSTOR 4255271. S2CID 40493539.
- Florida Plant Atlas . accessed 7.7.2012
- Pepo okeechobeensis - Small, J. New York Bot. Gard. 31: 12. 1930.
- "Cucurbita okeechobeensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- "C. okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis Five-year Review" (PDF). United States Fish and Wildlife Service. September 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2013.