葫芦 hu lu

Cucurbita siceraria Molina, Sag. Stor. Nat. Chili, 133. 1782; Cucumis mairei H. Léveillé; Cucurbita lagenaria Linnaeus; C. leucantha Duchesne, nom. illeg. superfl.; Lagenaria leucantha Rusby; L. leucantha var. clavata Makino; L. leucantha var. depressa (Seringe) Makino; L. leucantha var. makinoi Nakai; L. leucantha var. microcarpa (Naudin) Nakai; L. microcarpa Naudin; L. siceraria var. depressa (Seringe) H. Hara; L. siceraria var. microcarpa (Naudin) H. Hara; L. vulgaris Seringe; L. vulgaris subsp. asiatica Kobjakova; L. vulgaris var. depressa Seringe; L. vulgaris var. microcarpa Matsumura & Nakai.

Plants annual. Stem and branches sulcate-angular, pubescent. Tendrils filiform, puberulent. Petiole 16-20 cm, with 2 glands at apex; leaf blade ovate-cordate or reniform-ovate, 10-35 × 10-35 cm, undivided or 3-5-lobed, both surfaces puberulent, palmately 5-7-veined, base cordate, margin irregularly dentate. Plants monoecious; flowers solitary. Male flowers: pedicels slender; calyx tube funnelform, ca. 2 cm; segments lanceolate, ca. 5 mm; corolla yellow; segments 3-4 × 2-3 cm; filaments 3-4 mm; anthers oblong, 8-10 mm. Female flowers: calyx segments and corolla as in male flowers; ovary densely pubescent; stigma enlarged, 2-lobed. Fruit various in size and shape, woody when mature. Seeds white, obovate or triangular, ca. 20 mm, apex truncate. Fl. summer, fr. autumn.

Commonly cultivated in China [cultivated in all warmer areas of the world].

The fruit is used as a vegetable when young; woody when mature, it is used as various vessels.