Today's nature discussion is on the plant called Cucurbita pepo. It is known in English as Pumpkin and in Akwa Ibom state, the South-South part of Nigeria in West Africa,it is locally known as Ndise.
Description
Cucurbita pepo, which encompasses summer squashes including zucchini, yellow crookneck, pattypan, and spaghetti, as well as some types of winter squash and pumpkin (Delicata squash, autumn pumpkin), is a frost-intolerant annual plant in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). Native to Mexico and North America, it is now widely cultivated in warm areas worldwide as a food and animal fodder.
Its leaves are more or less round with five deep lopes and serrated edges. It has a solid dark green or yellow-green or with grey-green markings.
MEDICINAL USES
- It is used to treat and heal fire burns on skin. In case of any incidence of fire burns, large quantities of the leaves is squeezed and the chlorophyll extract from the leaves is applied to the burns for rapid healing.
I'm trying to grow one of these right now in fact. I haven't been able to give it enough water, this summer has been too hot and dry. It hasn't died yet, but it has hardly grown. Also I'm trying to keep the pests away, they have eaten all but one left. Haven't given up hope though!
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It needs adequate supply of water like twice a day..mine brought out fruits last month..its a nice plant
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