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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| image=Courge de Siam.jpg
| name = ''Cucurbita ficifolia''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Cucurbitales]]
| familia = [[Cucurbitaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Cucurbita]]''
| species = '''''C. ficifolia'''''
| binomial = ''Cucurbita ficifolia''
| binomial_authority = Bouché
}}
'''''Cucurbita ficifolia''''' is an [[annual plant|annual]] [[vine]] or trailing plant grown at high altitudes for its edible [[seed]]s, [[fruit]], and [[greens (vegetable)|greens]].
English names for the plant include '''chilacayote''', '''fig-leaved gourd''', '''malabar gourd''', '''Thai marrow''', '''shark fin melon''' and '''pie melon'''.
It shows considerable biochemical difference from the other members of its genus, and does not hybridize readily with them.
== Origin and distribution ==
It is native to the [[Americas]], although the exact center of [[domestication]] is unclear.
Linguistic evidence suggests [[Mexico]], because of the wide use of [[Nahuatl]]-derived names as far south as [[Argentina]], while archaeological evidence suggests [[Peru]], because the earliest remains have been found there. Biosystematics have been unable to confirm either hypothesis.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} It is called ''zambo'' in [[Ecuador]].
It is now grown in many parts of [[Eurasia]], from [[France]] to [[India]] to [[Japan]].
== Uses ==
The most important use of ''Cucurbita ficifolia'' is for its [[fat]]- and [[protein]]-rich [[seed]]s.
They are used along with [[honey]] to make [[palenqueta]]s, a [[dessert]].
The second most important use is for its [[fruit]]. The immature fruit is cooked as a [[vegetable]], while the mature fruit is sweet, and used to make [[confectionery]] and [[beverage]]s, sometimes [[alcoholic beverage|alcoholic]].
The fruit has a low [[beta-carotene]] content, as can be seen from its white flesh.
It has a moderate content of [[carbohydrate]]s, and a relatively low content of [[vitamin]]s and [[dietary mineral|mineral]]s.
The [[flower]]s, [[leaf|leaves]] and young [[shoot]]s are used as [[greens (vegetable)|greens]].
The vine and fruit are used for [[fodder]].
== External links ==
* [http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0646e/T0646E0a.htm Neglected crops: 1492 from a different perspective (ch 10)]
{{unimelb|Cucurbita.html#ficifolia}}
[[Category:Cucurbitaceae]]
[[Category:fruit]]
[[Category:Edible nuts and seeds]]
[[Category:Flora of Ecuador]]
[[Category:Flora of Peru]]
| color = lightgreen
| image=Courge de Siam.jpg
| name = ''Cucurbita ficifolia''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Cucurbitales]]
| familia = [[Cucurbitaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Cucurbita]]''
| species = '''''C. ficifolia'''''
| binomial = ''Cucurbita ficifolia''
| binomial_authority = Bouché
}}
'''''Cucurbita ficifolia''''' is an [[annual plant|annual]] [[vine]] or trailing plant grown at high altitudes for its edible [[seed]]s, [[fruit]], and [[greens (vegetable)|greens]].
English names for the plant include '''chilacayote''', '''fig-leaved gourd''', '''malabar gourd''', '''Thai marrow''', '''shark fin melon''' and '''pie melon'''.
It shows considerable biochemical difference from the other members of its genus, and does not hybridize readily with them.
== Origin and distribution ==
It is native to the [[Americas]], although the exact center of [[domestication]] is unclear.
Linguistic evidence suggests [[Mexico]], because of the wide use of [[Nahuatl]]-derived names as far south as [[Argentina]], while archaeological evidence suggests [[Peru]], because the earliest remains have been found there. Biosystematics have been unable to confirm either hypothesis.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} It is called ''zambo'' in [[Ecuador]].
It is now grown in many parts of [[Eurasia]], from [[France]] to [[India]] to [[Japan]].
== Uses ==
The most important use of ''Cucurbita ficifolia'' is for its [[fat]]- and [[protein]]-rich [[seed]]s.
They are used along with [[honey]] to make [[palenqueta]]s, a [[dessert]].
The second most important use is for its [[fruit]]. The immature fruit is cooked as a [[vegetable]], while the mature fruit is sweet, and used to make [[confectionery]] and [[beverage]]s, sometimes [[alcoholic beverage|alcoholic]].
The fruit has a low [[beta-carotene]] content, as can be seen from its white flesh.
It has a moderate content of [[carbohydrate]]s, and a relatively low content of [[vitamin]]s and [[dietary mineral|mineral]]s.
The [[flower]]s, [[leaf|leaves]] and young [[shoot]]s are used as [[greens (vegetable)|greens]].
The vine and fruit are used for [[fodder]].
== External links ==
* [http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0646e/T0646E0a.htm Neglected crops: 1492 from a different perspective (ch 10)]
{{unimelb|Cucurbita.html#ficifolia}}
[[Category:Cucurbitaceae]]
[[Category:fruit]]
[[Category:Edible nuts and seeds]]
[[Category:Flora of Ecuador]]
[[Category:Flora of Peru]]
