Scientific Name: Cucurbita Maxima Duchesne / Curcubita sulcata Blanco

Description: Coarse, prostrate or climbing, annual, hearbaceoous vine, 4 meters or more. Leaves are hispid, rounded, 15 to 30 cms, heart-shaped at the base, shallowly 5-lobed, with finely toothed margins. Flowers are bell-shaped, erect, yellow. The fruit is large, fleshy, with a yellow pulp. The seeds are ovoid, or oblong, compreseed.

Traditional Uses:

• The fruit pulp is used as poultice for carbuncles, boils and ulcers.

• For venomous insect bites, the fruit stalk in contact with the ripe gourd is cut, dried, and made into a paste and applied to venomous insect bites, especially centipedes.

• The fresh seeds are used as antihelminthiceeds are eaten fresh to expel worms from the stomach.

Excerpts from: "An illustrated compilation of Philippine medicinal plants by Godofredo Stuart"