Cucurbita maxima
Genus: Cucurbita
Botanical name: Cucurbita maxima
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Sanskrit: Peetakushmanda
English: Giant Pumpkin, great pumpkin, melon pumpkin, red gourd, red pumpkin, squash, squash gourd, turks cap gourd, winter squash
Hindi: Lalkumra, Kaddu
Malayalam: Mathan
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Giant Pumpkin is an annual climber growing up to 5 m at a fast rate. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. Fruit is cooked and eaten. A delicious flavour when baked, rather like a sweet potato. The flesh can be dried, ground into a powder and used with cereals in making bread, cakes etc. Some varieties can be stored for up to 9 months. Seed – raw or cooked. The seed can also be ground into a powder and used with cereals in making breads etc. Young flowers are eaten raw or cooked. They are often dipped in batter and fried. Young leaves and stems are cooked and eaten.
In Siddha medicine, Giant Pumpkin also used as a medicinal plant. For example, the seeds Giant Pumpkin are fried in oil and ground to powder form, mixed with an equal amount of sugar. The blend, and castor oil with hot water are used as a treatment for tapeworms.