Scientific Family
Cucurbitaceae
Synonyms
Cucumis perennis, Pepo foetidissima
Other common names
buffalo gourd
calabazilla
wild gourd
wild pumpkin
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Cucurbita palmata
Height
Trailing to 20 feet
Riparian
No
Prostrate perennial up to 20 feet in length, with huge taproots and foul-smelling leaves. Yellow flowers open very early in the day.
Strong-smelling perennial vine; large, tuberous root; stems coarse, radiate, forming dense cover; leaves alternate along the stems pointing upward, on thick rough petioles; blades triangular, smaller at stem tips; large yellow flowers.
Habitat
Sandy soils and disturbed areas.
Plant Community
Desert Scrub
Disturbed Areas
Grasslands
Interior Chaparral
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Low elevation
3500
High elevation
7000
Flower Characteristics
Yellow flowers are funnel-shaped to 4 inches long, 5-lobed at the opening, with stamens that have large anthers deep inside the throat.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
August
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are whitish underneath, triangular and up to 1 foot in length.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Grayish-green
Leaf shape
Triangular
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Smooth, round, green with white stripes, 4 inch gourd that turns yellow when mature.
Fruit type
Other
Fruit color
Yellow
Seeds are white to tan and similar to pumpkin seeds.