南瓜 nan gua

Cucurbita pepo Linnaeus var. moschata (Duchesne) Duchesne.

Plants prostrate. Stem to 2-5 m, densely white setose. Petiole robust, 8-19 cm, setose; leaf blade broadly ovate or ovate-orbicular, 12-25 × 20-30 cm, 5-angled or 5-lobed; lobes triangular, adaxially yellow-white setose and velvety. Male calyx tube campanulate, 5-6 mm; segments linear, 1-1.5 cm, pubescent, enlarged or leaflike at apex; corolla campanulate, ca. 8 × 6 cm; segments with revolute margin, rugose, apex acute; stamens 3; filaments 5-8 mm, glandular; anthers connivent, ca. 15 mm. Ovary 1-locular; style short; stigma enlarged, 2-lobed. Fruiting pedicel robust, 5-7 cm, angular-sulcate, strongly enlarged at apex; fruit variable in shape, size, and color. Seeds numerous, gray-white, ovate or oblong, 10-15 × 7-10 mm, margin thickened. Fl. and fr. Apr-Nov.

Commonly cultivated throughout China [native to Central America; cultivated worldwide].

The fruit is used as a vegetable; the seeds are edible.