Cucurbita digitata

Curcurbita digitata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Cucurbitales
Family:	Cucurbitaceae
Genus:	Cucurbita
Species:	C. digitata
Binomial name
Cucurbita digitata Gray

Cucurbita digitata is a species of flowering plant in the squash family known by the common names fingerleaf gourd and bitter squash. It is similar to Cucurbita californica, Cucurbita cordata, Cucurbita cylindrata, and Cucurbita palmata.

This wild squash plant is native to the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico where it is relatively uncommon. It was first identified by Asa Gray in 1853.

Description

Cucurbita digitata is a hairy vining plant with sharply palmate leaves having five fingerlike lobes. It is quite similar in appearance to its close relative, the coyote gourd Cucurbita palmata, but the lobes of its leaves are usually more slender.

It has curling yellow flowers up to 5 centimeters wide.

The fruit is a dark green squash, rounded or nearly rounded, with mottling and distinct white stripes. The bitter fruit is very distasteful and generally not edible, although a few animals may hesitantly eat the flesh while trying to get at the seeds. Each white seed is about a centimeter long and at 35% protein and 50% fat is a nutritious food.

External links

• Jepson Manual Treatment: Cucurbita digitata
• USDA Plants Profile — Cucurbita digitata
• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Profile